New Zealand Gallantry Decoration
The New Zealand Gallantry Decoration (NZGD) is the third level military decoration of the New Zealand armed forces. It was instituted by Royal Warrant on 20 September 1999 as part of the new indigenous New Zealand Gallantry system. The medal, which may be awarded posthumously, is granted in recognition of 'acts of exceptional gallantry in situations of danger' while involved in war and warlike operational service (including peacekeeping).
New Zealand Gallantry Decoration

New Zealand Government, Office of the Governor-General · https: gg.govt.nz/images/new-zealand-gallantry-decoration · CC BY 4.0
- Name
- New Zealand Gallantry Decoration
- Period
- 1999
- Region
- New Zealand
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Documentary summary
The New Zealand Gallantry Decoration (NZGD) is the third level military decoration of the New Zealand armed forces. It was instituted by Royal Warrant on 20 September 1999 as part of the new indigenous New Zealand Gallantry system. The medal, which may be awarded posthumously, is granted in recognition of 'acts of exceptional gallantry in situations of danger' while involved in war and warlike operational service (including peacekeeping).
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wikidata · Q16933258 · wikipedia · New Zealand Gallantry Decoration
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Overview
Overview
Bars are awarded to the NZGS in recognition of the performance of further acts of gallantry meriting the award. Recipients are entitled to the postnominal letters "N.Z.G.D.". This medal replaced the award of the Distinguished Service Cross, Military Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Force Cross, Distinguished Service Medal, Military Medal, Distinguished Flying Medal, and Air Force Medal.

Pictured from left were Corporal Matthew Ball NZGD, Corporal Albert Moore NZGS and Lance Corporal Allister Baker, NZGD.
New Zealand Government, Office of the Governor-General · https: gg.govt.nz/image-galleries/6468/media?page=6

The New Zealand Gallantry Decoration
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — New Zealand Gallantry Decoration • Presenter — New Zealand • Type — Military decoration • Eligibility — New Zealand and allied forces • Awarded For — "acts of exceptional gallantry in situations of danger" while involved in war and warlike operational service (including peacekeeping) • Status — Currently awarded • Description — 46 mm, (obverse) faceted silver cross surmounted by the Royal Crown and fern frond wreath emblem; (reverse) inscribed "FOR GALLANTRY - MO TE TOANGA". With ring suspension. • Established — 20 September 1999 • Holder Label — Founder • Holder — Elizabeth II • Total Awarded — 12 • Higher — Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit • Lower — New Zealand Bravery Decoration • Caption2 — Ribbon: 32 mm, seven narrow vertical stripes of crimson, white, crimson, purple, crimson, white, and crimson
Recipients
Recipients
• Name — Rank — Unit — Campaign — Date of action • data-sort-value="Oxenham, John Clinton Lionel"|John Clinton Lionel Oxenham — data-sort-value="6"|Chief petty officer — Royal New Zealand Navy — United Nations Mission in Cambodia — data-sort-value="1992-12-01"|1–4 December 1992 • data-sort-value="Dyer, John Charles"|John Charles Dyer — data-sort-value="14"|Lieutenant colonel — Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery — United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone — data-sort-value="1999-01-06"|6 January 1999 • data-sort-value="Cudby, Logan Charles"|Logan Charles Cudby — data-sort-value="13"|Squadron leader — Royal New Zealand Air Force — United Nations Mission in East Timor — data-sort-value="1999-06-01"|June–September 1999 • data-sort-value="Cheater, Phillip Murray"|Phillip Murray Cheater — data-sort-value="1"|Private — Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment — United Nations Mission in East Timor — data-sort-value="2000-06-24"|24 July 2000 • B — data-sort-value="4"|Corporal — New Zealand Special Air Service — War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) — data-sort-value="2004-01-01"|2004 • C — data-sort-value="12"|Captain — New Zealand Special Air Service — War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) — data-sort-value="2004-01-01"|2004 • data-sort-value="Baker, Allister Donald"|Allister Donald Baker — data-sort-value="3"|Lance corporal — Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment — War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) — data-sort-value="2010-08-03"|3 August 2010 • data-sort-value="Ball, Matthew John"|Matthew John Ball — data-sort-value="4"|Corporal — Royal New Zealand Corps of Signals — War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) — data-sort-value="2010-08-03"|3 August 2010 • H — data-sort-value="0"|Undisclosed — New Zealand Special Air Service — War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) — data-sort-value="2011-01-01"|2011 • W — data-sort-value="0"|Undisclosed — New Zealand Special Air Service — War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) — data-sort-value="2011-01-01"|2011 • data-sort-value="Smith, Leon Kristopher"|Leon Kristopher Smith — data-sort-value="3"|Lance corporal — New Zealand Special Air Service — War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) — data-sort-value="2011-08-19"|19 August 2011 • data-sort-value="Duncan, David John"|David John Duncan — data-sort-value="5"|Sergeant — Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps — War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) — data-sort-value="2012-08-04"|4 August 2012
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- New Zealand
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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 StarTerminology
- New Zealand CrossTerminology
- New Zealand Defence Service MedalTerminology
- New Zealand Distinguished Service DecorationTerminology
- New Zealand Gallantry MedalTerminology
- New Zealand Gallantry StarTerminology
- New Zealand General Service Medal 2002Terminology
- New Zealand Long and Efficient Service MedalTerminology
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