MEDALS NEWS
5 December 2003
Medals for service in Solomon Islands and Iraq
Hon Mark Burton
Defence Minister Mark Burton today announced that the government has agreed to
the institution of a New Zealand General Service Medal (NZGSM) to recognise the
current service in Iraq. Agreement has also been given to amend the qualifying
service for the NZGSM (Solomon Islands) to recognise the service of members of
the Police and the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) who have served in the Solomon
Islands with the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI).
The regulations determining the eligibility for personnel for these awards are
being finalised and will need the approval of the Governor-General before the
medals are issued.
“These awards recognise the significant contribution New Zealanders continue
to make towards peace and reconstruction in these two countries”, said Mark Burton.
“Previously, New Zealand has awarded the NZGSM to personnel deployed to the Solomon
Islands to evacuate foreign nationals, as well as for contributions to the International
Peace Monitoring Team during the period 2000-2002.
“However, military and police personnel who have recently been deployed under
RAMSI to provide assistance in the restoration of law and order and the rule
of law in the Solomon Islands are not currently covered by the eligibility criteria
for the NZGSM. The regulations are to be amended to extend the award to them.
“This year, New Zealand committed military personnel to the UN Mine Action Force
in Iraq. An engineering detachment was also deployed to provide reconstruction
assistance in Iraq, serving alongside the British led international force. They,
too, will now be eligible for recognition through the NZGSM.
“Our NZDF service personnel, Police, and civilians are making a very important
contribution to re-establishing safety, security, and infrastructure in both
Iraq and the Solomon Islands. It is fitting that they will now all be eligible
for this medal.”
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