| New Zealand Defence Service Medal | |
|---|---|
 Above: Medal and Inverse with Clasps shown
Bottom: Ribbon bar of the medal | |
| Type | Service medal |
| Awarded for | Attested military service since 3 September 1945 |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Eligibility | Ex-Service persons and currently serving NZDF military personnel who meet the criteria set out in the Royal Warrant and associated regulations |
| Clasps | REGULAR TERRITORIAL C.M.T. NATIONAL SERVICE |
| Status | Currently awarded |
| Established | April 2011 |
| Total | 85,000[1] |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Cadet Forces Medal |
| Next (lower) | Rhodesia Medal |
The New Zealand Defence Service Medal (NZDSM) is a military service medal awarded to former and current members of the New Zealand Defence Force, for qualifying service since 3 September 1945. It is expected that at least 160,000 former service personnel and more than 7,000 currently serving NZDF personnel are eligible to receive the medal.[2]
Eligibility is defined in the Royal Warrant[3][4] and NZDSM Medal Regulations,[5] dated 6 April 2011 and 13 April 2011 respectively.
Serving NZDF personnel are awarded the medal automatically once the eligibility criteria are met.[6] Former service members, and families of deceased service members should apply to the NZDF Medals Office.[7][8]
- ^ Medal Yearbook 2023. Honiton, Devon: Token. 2022. p. 563. ISBN 978-1-908828-63-7.
- ^ "New Zealand Defence Service Medal". New Zealand Defence Force. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
- ^ "The New Zealand Defence Service Medal" (PDF). medals.nzdf.mil.nz. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 March 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ "Medal & service records" (PDF).
- ^ "Medal & service records" (PDF).
- ^ "Medal & service records".
- ^ "Medal & service records".
- ^ "New Zealand Defence Service Medal Application Form". Archived from the original on 18 September 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2015.