New Zealand Campaign Medals - The New Zealand General Service Medal 2002 (Afghanistan)
Note: The NZGSM (Afghanistan) above is shown with the ribbon for the primary operational area.
About the NZGSM (Afghanistan) primary operational area
The NZGSM (Afghanistan) was instituted in 2002 to recognise New Zealand personnel (both military and non military) who served in Afghanistan from December 2001. There are two qualifying geographical areas for the award. The ‘primary' operational area is within the borders of Afghanistan itself, while the ‘secondary' operational area includes areas of other countries in which forces were based to participate in the operation. Different medal ribbons denote the primary and secondary areas.
The NZGSM (Afghanistan) has been awarded to over 3800 NZDF personnel. Over 3000 personnel have received the medal for service in the primary area; with over 800 personnel having completed the required qualifying service in the secondary area. The NZGSM (Afghanistan) primary operational area has also been awarded to New Zealand Police personnel and to nine New Zealand Red Cross aid workers.
Personnel who complete the required amounts of qualifying service in both the secondary and primary operational areas are only awarded one NZGSM (Afghanistan), and must wear it with the ribbon for the primary operational area. See Regulation 10 of the Regulations for the NZGSM (Afghanistan). If a person qualifies for and is presented the secondary operational area medal and ribbon first (for example, for service on HMNZS Te Mana in 2004), then later completes the required service in the primary operational area (for example, with the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamiyan in 2011) they do not receive a second NZGSM (Afghanistan). Instead, they replace the secondary ribbon in their medal groups and ribbon bars with the primary ribbon.
Further information on service by New Zealand personnel in Afghanistan and in the surrounding countries can be found in the media statements listed below, on the Overseas Deployments page and Afghanistan page of the NZDF website, and on the Medals Listed by Campaign table.
About the ribbon
The proportions of the ribbon for the primary operational area follow those used for the New Zealand General Service Medal 1992 and the New Zealand General Service Medal 2002 (Solomon Islands).
The ribbon is comprised of stripes of black, red and green. These colours have been used as the basic colours of a variety of traditional Afghanistan flags since 1900, and in 1929 were recognised as the national colours of the country. It is generally accepted that black alludes to the past, red to blood shed for independence, and green to hope. Green also represents the Islamic faith and is regarded as a sacred colour.
Royal Warrant
The Royal Warrant for the New Zealand General Service Medal 2002 can be viewed here.
Medal Regulations
The Regulations for the New Zealand General Service Medal 2002 (Afghanistan) can be viewed here.
Clasps and Bars
There are no clasps or bars for this medal.
Order of Wear
The position of this medal in the Wearing of Medals in New Zealand Table can be viewed here.
Recipients of New Zealand Gallantry Awards for their actions in Afghanistan
9 December 2014 - Special Honours List:
• The New Zealand Gallantry Star - to two members of the 1st New Zealand Special Air Service Regiment (whose names are withheld for security reasons).
• The New Zealand Gallantry Decoration - to two members of the 1st New Zealand Special Air Service Regiment (whose names are withheld for security reasons).
• The New Zealand Gallantry Medal - to five members of the 1st New Zealand Special Air Service Regiment (whose names are withheld for security reasons).
20 April 2013 - Special Honours List:
• The New Zealand Gallantry Decoration - to Lance Corporal Leon Kristopher SMITH (T1002840), 1 New Zealand Special Air Service Group (Deceased);
• The New Zealand Gallantry Medal -
- • to Squadron Leader (then Flight Lieutenant) Benjamin Mark PRYOR (R1001757), Royal New Zealand Air Force; and
- • to Staff Sergeant (then Acting Warrant Officer Class Two) Dean Maurice RENNIE (D993143), Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment (The Duke of York’s Own) (Retired).
1 October 2011 - Special Honours List:
• The New Zealand Gallantry Star - to Corporal Albert Henry Moore (B1012323), Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment.
• The New Zealand Gallantry Decoration -
- • to Lance Corporal Allister Donald Baker (Q1018707), Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment and
- • to Corporal Matthew John Ball (X1015655), Royal New Zealand Corps of Signals.
• The New Zealand Gallantry Medal - to Warrant Officer Class Two Denis Joachim Wanihi (D771492), Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment (The Duke of York's Own).
2 July 2007 - Special Honours List:
• The Victoria Cross for New Zealand - to Corporal Bill Henry Apiata, New Zealand Special Air Service.
• The New Zealand Gallantry Decoration - to two members of the 1st New Zealand Special Air Service Group.
• The New Zealand Gallantry Medal - to one member of the 1st New Zealand Special Air Service Group.For security reasons, the names of the recipients in 2007 of the New Zealand Gallantry Decorations and the New Zealand Gallantry Medal have not been released by the New Zealand Government.
Personnel who have been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for their service in Afghanistan since Dec 2001 include
- • Lieutenant Colonel Peter Davis Hall, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment - Queen’s Birthday 2015
Recipients of the New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration for their service in Afghanistan since Dec 2001 include
- • Colonel John Boswell, New Zealand Army - New Year's Honours 2012
- • Major Suzanne Lynn Carter, Royal New Zealand Nursing Corps - New Year's Honours 2011
- - also see 15 February 2011 - “Bamiyan Babies” Nurse coordinator honoured in New Years list (as published in Army News, Issue 417, p.5)
- • Captain Daniel Alexander Edginton, Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps - Queen’s Birthday 2015
- • Lieutenant Arthur Jordan Gale, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
- New Year's Honours 2013
- - also see 29 May 2013 - North Shore Army officer decorated for service in Afghanistan
- • Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Richard McAslan, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment - Queen’s Birthday and Diamond Jubilee Honours 2012
- • Staff Sergeant Robert Victor Keith McGee, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment - Queen’s Birthday 2015
- • Lieutenant Colonel Stefan John Michie, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment - Queen’s Birthday 2013
- • Lieutenant Colonel Brett Lockwood Wellington, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment - New Year's Honours 2013
- • Lieutenant Colonel Richard John Weston MNZM - Queen’s Birthday 2014
- • Serviceman B (Name withheld for security reasons) - New Year's Honours 2015
- • Serviceman G (Name withheld for security reasons) - Queen’s Birthday 2015
- • Serviceman S (Name withheld for security reasons) - Queen’s Birthday 2015
- • Warrant Officer Class One Christopher James Wilson,
Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment (The Duke of York’s Own) - Queen’s Birthday and Diamond Jubilee Honours 2012
- - also see 7 September 2012 - Governor-General presents Awards to New Zealand Defence Force personnel
- • Captain Dominic Gareth Crosby Wylie, New Zealand Army - Queen’s Birthday 2014
Media statement about the NZGSM (Afghanistan) Primary Operational Area
- 14 June 2013 - Afghan interpreters receive NZ medals
Media statements and news articles
concerning service by New Zealand personnel in Afghanistan
- February 2014 issue of United States Air Force Magazine - Distinguished Rescue - United States Air Force’s rescue airmen receive the United States Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor device for helping 'fight off a deadly ambush and pull combatants [including NZDF personnel] from a mountain firefight in [Bamyan Province] Afghanistan' on 4 August 2012 (Note: This link goes to the United States Air Force Magazine website).
- 21 May 2013 - Afghanistan mission closure team return home
- 24 April 2013 - Defence Force Mission In Afghanistan - A Significant Contribution
- 23 August 2012 - New Zealand’s Fallen Soldiers Arrive Home
- 20 August 2012 - IED Incident in Bamyan Province Afghanistan - Release 2
- 8 August 2012 - Information about the wounded soldiers
- 8 August 2012 - Ramp Ceremony for deceased soldiers
- 6 August 2012 - Deaths in Bamyan Province Afghanistan - Release 3
- 3 July 2012 - NZSAS soldier posthumously recognised for bravery
- 2 April 2012 - NZSAS soldier’s bravery to be recognised posthumously
- 2 April 2012 - Memorial Crosses presented to slain soldiers' families
- 4 October 2011 - NZSAS - Return to NZ of LCPL Leon Smith
- 28 September 2011 - NZSAS Afghanistan - Death of a trooper
- 27 September 2011 - Kiwis return from deployment to Afghanistan
- 19 September 2011 - Incident in Bamyan province, Afghanistan
- 11 September 2011 - Kiwis depart for six month deployment to Afghanistan
- 30 August 2011 - Corporal Doug Grant farewelled at Linton
- 22 August 2011 - NZDF release name of SAS trooper killed in attack
- 19 August 2011 - NZSAS trooper killed in Kabul
- 17 February 2011 - Private Kirifi Mila farewelled at Kiwi Base in Bamyan Province
- 16 February 2011 - Death of Private Kirifi Mila on operations in Afghanistan
- 15 February 2011 - “Bamiyan Babies” Nurse coordinator honoured in New Years list
- 11 February 2011 - NZ soldiers assist in explosives incident in Afghanistan
Other Campaign Medals awarded to New Zealanders for service in Afghanistan since 2001
The NATO Medal for the Non-Article 5 ISAF Operation in Afghanistan
United Nations Special Service Medal for service on the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) - only the small number of NZDF personnel who have served with UNAMA are eligible for this UNSSM