KEY POINTS:
A new medal is to be struck to recognise New Zealanders' service in the current deployment to East Timor, Prime Minister Helen Clark said today.
It will be called the New Zealand General Service Medal (Timor-Leste) and will be awarded to Defence Force and Police personnel who have served in East Timor since the outbreak of violence last April and May.
New Zealanders were first deployed to East Timor in 1999 to help establish stability ahead of independence. Their service was recognised with the East Timor Medal.
Miss Clark said the end date for eligibility for that medal would be April 27, 2006.
"New Zealanders currently serving in Timor-Leste are on a different mission, as such it is appropriate that this service is recognised with a different medal," she said in a statement.
"New Zealand personnel have encountered many challenges in trying conditions over the past year. They have met these challenges and have played an important role in Timor-Leste's journey towards peace and stability."
- NZPA
