New Zealand Defence Service Medal
The New Zealand Defence Service Medal (NZDSM) is a military service medal awarded to former and current members of the New Zealand Defence Force, for qualifying service since 3 September 1945. It is expected that at least 160,000 former service personnel and more than 7,000 currently serving NZDF personnel are eligible to receive the medal. Eligibility is defined in the Royal Warrant and NZDSM Medal Regulations, dated 6 April 2011 and 13 April 2011 respectively.
Also recorded as NZDSM
New Zealand Defence Service Medal
- Name
- New Zealand Defence Service Medal
- Period
- 2011
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Documentary summary
The New Zealand Defence Service Medal (NZDSM) is a military service medal awarded to former and current members of the New Zealand Defence Force, for qualifying service since 3 September 1945. It is expected that at least 160,000 former service personnel and more than 7,000 currently serving NZDF personnel are eligible to receive the medal. Eligibility is defined in the Royal Warrant and NZDSM Medal Regulations, dated 6 April 2011 and 13 April 2011 respectively.
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In this article
Overview
Overview
Serving NZDF personnel are awarded the medal automatically once the eligibility criteria are met. Former service members, and families of deceased service members should apply to the NZDF Medals Office.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — New Zealand Defence Service Medal • Country — New Zealand • Type — Service medal • Eligibility — Ex-Service persons and currently serving NZDF military personnel who meet the criteria set out in the Royal Warrant and associated regulations • Awarded For — Attested military service since 3 September 1945 • Status — Currently awarded • Clasps — REGULAR TERRITORIAL C.M.T. NATIONAL SERVICE • Established — April 2011 • Total Awarded — 85,000 • Higher — Cadet Forces Medal • Lower — Rhodesia Medal
Appearance
Appearance
The NZDSM is circular medal made of antiqued bronze. The obverse of the medal contains the New Zealand Coat of Arms. The reverse depicts one large New Zealand fern frond and the emblems of the Navy, Army and Air Force represented by the badge of the New Zealand Defence Force. The lower portion of the reverse contains the inscription "THE NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE SERVICE MEDAL". The medal is suspended from a ribbon of dark blue, red, light blue. These colours are separated by thin light green stripes. The medal is awarded with at least one clasp according to the type of service for which awarded. It is possible to be awarded two or more clasps if more than one type of service was undertaken by the service member. The medal is engraved along its edge with the service number, name and regiment or service of the wearer, and the rank held on the day the eligibility criteria were met by the service member.
Clasps
Clasps
There are some exceptions which can be found in the relevant regulations, but the main eligibility criteria are as follows:
Regular
Regular
For three years service, continuous or aggregated, in the regular forces of the New Zealand Defence Force or (before 1990) the New Zealand Armed Forces, commencing on or after 3 September 1945.
Territorial
Territorial
For a minimum of three years efficient service in the Territorial Forces of the NZDF or (before 1990) the New Zealand armed forces commencing on or after 3 September 1945.
C.M.T.
C.M.T.
For meeting the requirements of Compulsory Military Training from 1949—1958, as stated in the relevant regulations and legislation.
National service
National service
For having met conscripted National Service obligations as stated in the relevant legislation and regulations, from 1962—1972.
Chronology
Dated record
Chronology
The full dated record · 1 entries
2011
New Zealand Defence Service Medal first recorded.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Token. Medal Yearbook 2023. 563. 2022. 978-1-908828-63-7.
- 2.New Zealand Defence Force. New Zealand Defence Service Medal.
- 3.The New Zealand Defence Service Medal. medals.nzdf.mil.nz.
- 4.Medal & service records.
- 5.Medal & service records.
- 6.Medal & service records.
- 7.Medal & service records.
- 8.New Zealand Defence Service Medal Application Form.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Medals
1,069 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- New Zealand Bravery DecorationTerminology
- New Zealand Bravery MedalTerminology
- New Zealand Bravery StarTerminology
- New Zealand CrossTerminology
- New Zealand Distinguished Service DecorationTerminology
- New Zealand Gallantry DecorationTerminology
- New Zealand Gallantry MedalTerminology
- New Zealand Gallantry StarTerminology
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