General Advisory Notes ~ [scroll down for Replica Medals section]

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Apply for New Zealand Military Medals

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If you are entitled to New Zealand military medals, apply for them by writing to the New Zealand Defence Forces medals section. Contact details are shown below.

To start the process to claim medals entitlement, write or email to:

or, email by clicking on this link medals@nzdf.mil.nz

Provide the following information that is identifiable, including that for next of kin if possible, to assist military Archives staff locate files:

If applicable; Next of Kin, Address and Occupation at time of Enlistment

Include your current address and contact phone number in all communications.

Records for World War One Service Personnel

All records for New Zealander's who served during WWI are held at Archives New Zealand, PO Box 12 050, Wellington.

New Zealand Defence Service Medal 2010

The New Zealand Defence Force medals office is accepting applications for the medal as descibed on the web page, seen by clicking HERE.. Applications can be submitted via the website link by clicking HERE.

Click on image to view.

One or more clasps may be awarded with the medal. The number of clasps awarded to an individual will be determined by the type(s) of military service undertaken by the individual. The four clasps are: REGULAR (image shown above), TERRITORIAL, C.M.T. and NATIONAL SERVICE.

Information about the New Zealand Defence Service Medal can be viewed at the following New Zealand Defence Force web page, seen by clicking here

Military Campaigns involving New Zealand

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Military campaigns New Zealanders have been involved in include the Boer War, World War I and World War II, in Japan as occupation forces following the Second World War, and the Korea War in the early 1950's. That was followed by the Malayan Emergency from the mid-1950's to early 1960's. In the mid 1960's New Zealanders were involved with Malaysia in its confrontation with Indonesia by active service on the Malay Peninsula mainland and in Borneo.

Commitment to the war in South Vietnam was undertaken from late 1960's until the early 1970's. Other global issues involving New Zealand military forces have included Rhodesia, mine clearing in Cambodia, the Gulf War, peace keeping in East Timor and a combat force in Afghanistan.

Overall, the major countries in which New Zealand Military forces have been engaged in outside the borders of their own country include France, Germany, Italy, North Africa, Burma, Southwest Pacific region, Korea, Malaya, Vietnam, Cambodia, Rhodesia, Middle East, East Timor, and Afghanistan.

New Zealand Military Campaign Medal Awards - In a Nutshell

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The system of medallic issue is based on Honours, Decorations, and Awards. The order in which Orders, Decorations and Medals are worn in New Zealand is prescribed Cabinet of the New Zealand Government. However, only medals approved by the New Zealand Sovereign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, may be worn by serving military personnel.

Military forces active and non-active medallic issue is primarily for Gallantry, Bravery, Distinguished Conduct, and Campaigns. The following is a summary of the Campaign medals in a nutshell, consisting of War, operational, Peace keeping, and Special Service. Worn in date of order, awards include:

• Campaign Stars and Medals awarded for service in the Second World War.
• New Zealand Operational Service Medal, awarded for operational service after 3 September 1945
• New Zealand Service Medal 1946-1949
• Korea Medal
• United Nations Korea War Medal
• Naval General Service Medal [1915-1962]
• General Service Medal [Army and RAF] [1918-1962]
• General Service Medal [1962]
• Vietnam Medal [1964]
• Republic of South Vietnam Campaign Medal [1960-]
• New Zealand General Service Meda 1992 [Warlike]
• New Zealand General Service Meda 1992 [Non-warlike]
• East Timor Medal
• New Zealand General Service Medal [2002]
• New Zealand Special Service Medal [2002]
• New Zealand Defence Service Medal, awarded for attested military service since 3 September 1945
• United Nations Medals and United Nations Special Service Medals
• North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Medals
• South Korea War Service Medal

Order of Wear

Check the order in which honours and medals are worn by clicking here New Zealand Defence Force medals.

Medals Gallery

Wearing of Decorations and Medals by Next of Kin or Family Members
The insignia of any order, decoration or medal, including miniatures, lapel badges and ribbons, may only be worn by the person to whom they were awarded.

There is a convention or custom that is widely understood that the next of kin and other relatives may wear, on the right side only, on ANZAC and similar days of remembrance, the service medals of deceased military personnel.

The convention is a matter of personal discretion, is limited to days of remembrance and applies only to service medals and decorations mounted on a medal bar (full-size or miniature) and not neck badges, sashes and badges, or breast stars.

Medal Mounting Facts

Medals Order of Wear
When ribbons alone are worn, up to four ribbons can be mounted in one row on a ribbon bar before a second row centered above the first is started. The senior medal ribbon is displayed on the top row closest to the lapel and the junior medal on the bottom row furtherest from the lapel.

We can advise on mounting and correct Order of Wear.

Court Mounting Style
The Court style presents your medals with ceremonial excellence! The style evolved from within the Royal Courts to eliminate the noise of medals clinking together as a wearer went about the court business. Hence, this style is the accepted standard for medals mounting that includes ensuring the medal itself is fastened. The swing style can contribute early damage to the face of medals and ribbon. Back to top of page.

Medals Etiquette
It is dictated by etiquette that medals be worn in court-mounted style when in Royal and Vice-Regal presence, and on full ceremonial occasions.

Medals Width
Often there is doubt about the quality of a job when the owner sees medals mounted and overlapped. The simple answer is that a single group of medals should not exceed a width of 163mm.

Thus, the normal ribbon is 32mm wide. An average group of five WWII medals mounted side-by-side, with tolerance for butting of ribbon edges, can equal 163mm. For six or more medals the group is overlapped to equal 160mm, on average. There are exceptions in order to maintain balance that include Honours, Decorations, and Awards for campaigns. For example, the ribbon width for some Honours, Korean and Vietnam war medals is 35mm to 38mm wide.

Medals Length
The length of a mounted military medal should not be less than 90mm, nor longer than 95mm. Requests for specifications outside these parameters will be met, however, please do not be offended if we point the preceding specifications in the first instance.

Medals Obverse/Reverse Sides
There are two sides to a medal, the obverse side and reverse. The obverse side is normally referred to as the 'face' side and consists of depictions of a monarch or coat of arms. The reverse side can include depictions of a variety of symbolics.

The correct order of medals mounting is the obverse side outermost, or to the front.