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APPLYING FOR MEDALS

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Eligibility

A medal is instituted by the Sovereign by means of a Royal Warrant. The Royal Warrant names the medal, gives the reason why it has been created, details the medal's design, and in many cases describes the colour of its ribbon. The Government then often issues separate Regulations for the award and administration of the medal, and it is this document which sets the eligibility criteria and qualifying service for its award. If no separate Regulations have been issued for an award, the eligibility criteria, qualifying service, and administration information are contained in the Royal Warrant for the award.

Eligibility is usually based on service in a particular branch of the Armed Forces, service in a specific area of operations, and a qualifying length of time spent in that area. Personnel who meet all of the eligibility criteria may be awarded the medal. The Royal Warrants and the Regulations for many medals awarded to New Zealanders are published in this website. They can be accessed from individual medal pages.

Update on The planned NZDF Medal

Update - 6 January 2010:

NZDF is NOT currently accepting applications for the planned New Zealand Defence Force Medal.  For more information on the planned medal see the Minister of Defence's media statement of 18 June 2009 and the Update from the Minister of Defence on 13 October 2009.

Q: Will I be able to wear the new NZDF medal on Anzac Day 2010?

A: No, because no medals will be available to be issued prior to mid-2010. NZDF expects to call for applications for the new medal in mid-2010. Between now and mid-2010 there will need to be a tender process for the manufacturer(s), and then the medal and ribbon will still need to be manufactured. The NZDF Medals Office expects a large number of people to apply for the medal and, even with extra staff to process the applications, this could potentially be a two to three year project.

Link to more FAQs about the planned NZDF Medal.

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Application Forms (for Your Own Medals or for deceased family members medals)

Applications for medals by ex-servicemen and women need to be made on an official NZDF medal application form(s).

Medal approvals for currently serving military personnel are staffed through HQNZDF and single Service command chains.

Applying for miniatures

Information on applying for your own miniatures can be found here.

Information on obtaining miniatures of your family members' medals can be found here.

General enquiries about medals awarded to you or a family member

Information on how to make a general enquiry on medal entitlement (for you or for a family member) or on which medals have already been issued (and when) can be found here.

Information on the wearing of family members' medals

Information on the wearing of medals by family members can be found on the Wearing Medals page of the NZDF Medals website.

Replacing Lost or Stolen Medals

Lost or stolen medals can only be replaced during the lifetime of the person to whom they were originally awarded. To do so you should write to The Medals Office at the above address including the above list of information to assist the Headquarters staff to locate your file.

You must also include a Statutory Declaration swearing that you have lost your medals or had your medals stolen. A statutory declaration form in MS Word format is available here.

Medals Office News - 11 September 2007

On 27 August 2007, Willie Walker, the Staff Officer Medals since 1992, retired.  More information on Willie Walker's career and retirement can be found in the Army News article published about Willie Walker on 11 September 2007.

 

 This page was last reviewed 13 January, 2010 and is current.