New Zealand Long Service and Good Conduct Medals - The New Zealand Meritorious Service Medal
About this medal
The New Zealand Meritorious Service Medal was originally instituted by British Royal Warrant on 28 April 1898 for award to Warrant Officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers of the Army. A New Zealand Royal Warrant was authorised in 1985 and the award was extended to include Warrant Officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers of the Royal New Zealand Navy and the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
The New Zealand Meritorious Service Medal is awarded for meritorious service of twenty-one years or more and recipients must already hold a long service and good conduct medal. The number of personnel holding the award is restricted to ten serving members of the Navy, twenty serving Army personnel and fifteen serving Air Force personnel at any one time.
Nearly all recipients of this medal have been of the rank of Sergeant or above. However, in the early 20th Century some awards were made to lower ranks. The current Royal Warrant specifies that only those with the substantive rank of Sergeant or Petty Officer and above can be considered for award of the medal.
About the ribbon
The ribbon is crimson with a narrow central stripe of green. It is 32mm wide.
Royal Warrant
The Royal Warrant for the New Zealand Meritorious Service Medal can be viewed here.
Medal Regulations
Administration instructions are included in the Royal Warrant.
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.
No Post Nominal
The award of the New Zealand Meritorious Service Medal does not confer a right to use a post nominal.
Further Information and List of Recipients 1895-1994 (with details on why they were awarded the medal)
See H.E. Chamberlain's very thorough book Service Lives Remembered: The Meritorious Service Medal in New Zealand and its recipients 1895-1994 (published in Wellington in 1995) for further information on the medal, the list of recipients 1895-1994 and details on why they were awarded the medal.