| New Zealand War Medal | |
|---|---|
.jpg)  Obverse and reverse of the medal | |
| Type | Campaign medal |
| Awarded for | Campaign service |
| Description | Silver disk, 36 mm in diameter |
| Presented by | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland |
| Eligibility | British and Colonial forces |
| Campaign(s) | New Zealand Wars (1845–47, 1860–66) |
| Established | 1869 |
| Total recipients | 4,400 |
 | |
| Related | New Zealand Cross for bravery |
The New Zealand War Medal was a campaign medal authorised in 1869 to be awarded to Imperial and Colonial troops involved in the New Zealand Wars of 1845–47 and 1860–66.[1] The New Zealand Wars were previously known as the Māori Wars, Anglo-Māori Wars or Land Wars.
Imperial forces included British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Marines. The Colonial militia were recruited both locally and in Australia, and included mobile forces like Von Tempsky's Forest Rangers and the Arawa Flying Column from a Māori tribe for the guerrilla war in the New Zealand bush.
For Imperial forces, it was awarded to those "who actually served in the field against the enemy in New Zealand".[2][3]
The medal was granted to Colonial Forces and Friendly natives who had "been actually under fire, or otherwise conspicuous for distinguished service in the field," and also to nearest relatives of anyone killed in action or who had died of his wounds.[4] Claims from Colonial forces were closed in 1900 but reopened in 1910 and 1913 in association with land claims for service in the war. Claims were finally closed for Europeans in 1915 and Māori in 1916.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Mussellwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Horse Guards' General Order 17 of 1 March 1869". Journal of the Orders & Medals Research Society. 58 (1): 18. March 2019.
- ^ "New Zealand War Medals". Papers Past. National Library of New zealand. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
- ^ Papers Relative to the Issue of the New Zealand War Medal, Wellington, 1871, p. 3 – via Papers Past,
That, in accordance with the report of the Joint Committee, the New Zealand War Medal should be granted to such Colonial Forces and friendly Natives in all cases where the claimants have been actually under fire, or otherwise conspicuous for distinguished service in the field. The medal also to be given to the nearest relatives or any who have died of wounds or been killed in action.
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