New Zealand Defence Service Medal

Applications for the New Zealand Defence Service Medal (NZDSM) are now open to all ex-Service personnel and the families of deceased ex-Service personnel.
Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force, Lieutenant General Rhys Jones, says the medal recognises attested military service in the New Zealand Defence Force. New Zealanders who served in the military for three or more years since the end of World War Two, and those who completed their compulsory military training or national military service obligations, qualify for the medal.
“The NZDSM means that a large number of personnel who served New Zealand loyally and well in a wide range of roles and contexts, but not on operations, are now receiving medallic recognition for their work,” says Lieutenant General Jones.
Since April 2011, when the first applications were called for, more than 33,000 NZDSM medals have been issued.
"Now it’s the turn of ex-Service personnel and the families of deceased ex-Service personnel eligible for the medal. I encourage them to apply online using the form on the NZ Defence Force Medals website [http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz].” [See Notes 1 and 2 below].
The Chief of Defence says hard copies of the application form are also available at many local RSA clubrooms where staff are available to assist ex-Service personnel and family members with their application forms. Ex-Service personnel who have received the NZDSM and would like the medal to be presented to them formally can contact their nearest RSA as a number of branches are arranging presentations in local communities.

Note 1: Living ex-Service persons can apply online (http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz) or can complete and submit a paper application form. If you are able to, please fill in the online version of the application form instead of a paper form. This will assist the processing of your application.
Note 2: Families of deceased ex-Service persons should not fill in the online form because you will need to apply in writing due to the requirement to submit a Statutory Declaration (witnessed by a Justice of the Peace, Solicitor, or Officer duly authorised to take Statutory Declarations) stating that you have the greatest legal entitlement to be issued with your relative's medal, and providing copies of relevant documentation to prove this.