New Zealand Campaign Medals
Medals that are struck to commemorate and recognise service in a war or other warlike operational activity are known as Campaign Medals. They are awarded irrespective of rank to all personnel who served in the particular theatre of war or operation and who meet the minimum service requirement based on time and location. Until the end of the Second World War, New Zealand service personnel were awarded British Campaign Medals, however since that time a number of specific New Zealand Campaign Medals have been created.
Many Campaign Medals are awarded for service in very wide geographical areas. Service in a specific operation within the wider campaign area is often recognised by the award of a clasp engraved with the name of the specific area or activity. An example is the New Zealand General Service Medal 1992 (Warlike) which has four clasps, Near East, Malaya 1960-64, Vietnam and Kuwait. There is no limit to the number of clasps which can be issued for one Campaign Medal. For example, the New Zealand General Service Medal 1992 (Non-Warlike) has 13 clasps. There is an increasing trend today, to use the same medal for different campaigns with the different areas of operation being denoted by different medal ribbons. An example is the New Zealand General Service Medal 2002.
In 2001 the New Zealand Government adopted a set of eight principles by which the award of medallic recognition for operational service, which exceeds the normal requirements of peacetime, is judged. These are summarised here:
- Principle 1. Medals are awarded to recognise service that is beyond the normal requirements of peacetime service.
- Principle 2. Deserving service by New Zealand personnel should be recognised by a New Zealand award.
- Principle 3. There must be a balance between maintaining the exclusivity of awards and recognising significant service.
- Principle 4. In all but exceptional circumstances, there should be only one New Zealand medal to recognise each period of operational service.
- Principle 5. Awards will be continued only where the service rendered continues to meet all other requirements for the award of a medal.
- Principle 6. Medals for operational service should be open for award to civilians in appropriate circumstances.
- Principle 7. The fairness and integrity of any award must be transparent, and such awards should also be timely.
- Principle 8. Approval will be sought to accept and wear medals awarded by foreign governments or international organisations, where the service performed by New Zealand personnel is consistent with the other principles for medallic recognition.
Link to Category Ribbons
The Ribbons of New Zealand Campaign Medals can be viewed here.