New medal for defence personnel

A new armed services medal is to be given to all defence personnel who have served New Zealand overseas since 1945.

The New Zealand Operational Service Medal (NZOSM) will be awarded to all personnel who have been on operational service since 1945, and to those who perform operational service in the future.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said there should be proper public recognition of service for one's country, and that the system of recognition must be seen to be credible, fair, and consistent.

"It is to be awarded in addition to a New Zealand, Commonwealth, United Nations or other campaign medal recognising a specific period of operational service, such as Korea, or East Timor.

The NZOSM is effectively a follow-on from the NZ War Service Medal 1939-45 which was awarded to all New Zealanders who served in World War Two, regardless of where they served.

Ms Clark said other specific grievances relating to personnel who missed out on existing medals awarded for service in Japan, Malaya, the Suez conflict, Vietnam and Rwanda had also been addressed.