This section contains matters of interest to NZ Veterans. It will be displayed as textual posts, images, or PDF file links for you to have a look at.

A Message to Vietnam Veterans

Who is a Veteran? Who should be a Veteran?
[Although this piece was initially aimed at Vietnam Veterans it has since received fairly wide coverage. It has been posted into Facebook groups – NZ Vietnam Veterans, NZ Vietnam Veterans and Families, The Red Diamond Club, Onward Bar, South East Asia Veterans Association and NZDFW New Zealand Defence Force Whanau. It has generated a lot of feedback from the post-Vietnam generations, mostly supportive – RNH] Post-Vietnam ex-service people, the next generations, are asking for all who attested and served in NZDF to be defined as Veterans, and more importantly to be eligible for entitlements through Veterans Affairs. That’s the important bit, not whether or not someone is called a veteran. Trouble is, you have to be called a veteran to be eligible.
The Veterans’ Advisory Board recommended to the previous ministers that all who attested and served be defined as Veterans, and eligible.
RNZRSA National Council has passed a remit to actively support that proposal.
But I hear on the kūmara vine that some Vietnam veterans are opposed.
Let’s look at the facts then.
Who is presently defined as Veteran by the Veterans Support Act 2014 (VSA 2014)?
“veteran means a member of the armed forces who took part in qualifying operational service at the direction of the New Zealand Government; or a member of the armed forces who took part in qualifying routine service before 1 April 1974” (the date the Accident Compensation Act came into force). So, service before 1 April 1974: All of us who served before 1 April 1974 are defined as Veterans, whether we deployed on operational service, or whether we just had routine service in New Zealand or overseas. And all of us before 1 April 1974 are eligible for entitlements through Veterans Affairs. Should those who were on operational deployments be treated more generously than those with routine service? We are already. The standard of proof to receive benefits for those with qualifying operational service is benevolent, and grants us the benefit of the doubt (presumption). The standard of proof is higher for those with qualifying routine service only, but it is still benevolent (and definitely more benevolent than ACC). We use the Australian Statements of Principles that differentiate between the two types of service. They cover 360+ different conditions that we can claim.
And service after 1 April 1974: All of those who had qualifying operational service after 1 April 1974 are also defined as Veterans, and are eligible for entitlements. But their entitlements are not as generous as ours. Those with routine service only (in New Zealand or overseas) after 1 April 1974 are not covered by VSA 2014 and have to apply to ACC. Those ex-service people have great difficulty having their service related conditions accepted by ACC. Some of the stories are horrendous. It’s not about what you did. It’s about when you did it. That’s what the Act is about. It’s not about what you did. It’s about when you did it. BV (Before “Veteran”) Before VSA 2014 was enacted (in 2014) if we were all defined as “Members”. What did that mean? “member of the forces means any person who is or has at any time been a member of any of Her Majesty’s forces established in New Zealand, whether before or after the commencement of this Act (War Pensions Act 1954).” War pensions were payable whether the member served in any war or emergency, and entitlements were available when the member’s non-warlike service was in New Zealand or overseas. All who served. Consider this: All those who served in 1 NZEF and 2 NZEF in the world wars were defined as having war service and were eligible under the War Pensions Act 1954, then under VSA 2014. More than 50% of them served in administration, logistics, communication zone and base units. Never heard a shot fired in anger. But they were considered to have war service (now called qualifying operational service). All were defined as “Members”, and eligible for war pensions (War Pensions Act Sect 19(1)(a)). So too were those without war service (War Pensions Act Sect 19(1)(b)) A couple of years ago I instigated an application to Veterans Affairs for a 100 year old who served during World War 2 but never left New Zealand, medically. It was approved because he served before 1 April 1974. Despite never serving overseas he was defined in VSA 2014 as a Veteran. Because of when he did it, not where he did it, or what he did. And like more than 50% of those who did serve overseas in 2 NZEF, he too never heard a shot fired in anger. In the previous WW1 and WW2 generations operational or war service was not a requirement to be eligible for a war pension. It is now for the post-Vietnam generations to be eligible for the disablement pension and other entitlements. How inequitable is that.
Our Generations: In Korea, Malaya, Borneo and Vietnam we plugged into British or Australian logistics systems and communication zone units, so unlike 1 NZEF and 2 NZEF, most of us were front line troops. Not all of us though, but all of us are defined as Veteran, because of where we did it, and when we did it, not what we did. Not what we did. We’ll forget for the moment the entertainers who got the NZOSM. Thankfully they don’t quality for entitlements. Yet. Just joking. Should we tell the next generations that they should not be eligible for the same entitlements as us, whether or not they have operational or routine service, just because of when they served? Do you not agree that the difference is inequitable? Should they be treated the same and as generously as our generation? And it’s their world now. By comparison our generation is really well looked after, experienced advocates say the best looked after generation ever. Took us a while to get there though. Let’s get behind them. Let’s help them get there a bit sooner than it took us. What about the cost? Treasury and Veterans Affairs will argue that the cost will be prohibitive. But that’s a totally specious argument. We’re eligible for support from VANZ, ACC, WINZ, Te Whatu Ora/Health NZ and others. The taxpayer foots the bill anyway, regardless. Personally, I really don’t care whether I’m called a veteran or not. The medals tell my story. Would you believe I got the NZ Armed Forces Award for 15 years unblemished service! Don’t answer that. It’s my service record that decides what level of support I’m entitled to, not the label. I think a big part of the problem with the definition of “Veteran” is caused by our adoption of the American term “Veteran”. Bad move. Probably too late to ditch it now. Mind you, in the US and Australia everyone who serves is a veteran. Long ago I was a returned member and a veteran athlete (cross country, roads & track). Then in 2014 I became a veteran soldier. By an Act of Parliament. How ridiculous is that. Personally I think I’m just an old soldier, and an octogenarian. Also a veteran vegetarian turned vegan. Ross Himona Senior Advocate RNZRSA

Medal Applications

NZDF Personnel Archives and Medals (PAM) issues war, operational, and service medals to NZDF former and current service members. Within the limits of the Privacy Act 2020, we also provide advice about medals NZDF former and current service members might be entitled to, and information about which medals have already been issued to them.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to the volume of Personnel Archives and/or Medals requests currently on hand, please be aware that we may not be in a position to provide you with a decision on your request within the statutory time period.  We are working on rectifying this situation as quickly as possible.

Applying for an unclaimed medal

To apply for a medal and for general enquiries on medal entitlement, (for you or for a family member) or for information on which medals have already been issued (and when) you will need to complete the Medals application form and provide supporting information that is requested on the form.

For information on the application process for the COVID-19 Response Recognition Award click here.

Home Guard

Unfortunately the military personnel files of many of those who served in the Home Guard have not survived to the present day. This is likely due to the New Zealand Army purging a large number of military personnel documents in the years following World War II.

If we do not hold a military personnel file for someone who served with the Home Guard we will ask applicants if they can provide us with evidence of service such as old copies of the NZ Gazette, copies of posting notices, or letters home. A photograph on its own will not be sufficient to prove service, but could support other documents if the image is clear and the person is identified. Please note that for a service person to be eligible for a medal, we need to be able to confirm that they served with the New Zealand Army for a minimum of six months. NZ Royal Honours

NZDF PAM does not hold or administer any stock of awards, decorations or medals issued under the auspices of the NZ Royal Honours system (i.e. MNZM, etc.). Information on these awards should be sought from the Honours Unit, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.Foreign Awards 

NZDF PAM does not hold quantities of stock of any foreign awards, medals or decorations, except of the Pingat Jasa Malaysia (for issue for those who have not yet claimed this medal) and of miniatures of United Nations and NATO medals (for issue to NZDF serving personnel). Enquiries about all other foreign awards should be sent to the issuing Government/authority/agency.

For NZDF serving personnel, permission to wear a foreign award must be obtained by submitting form MD 1456. For those NZDF serving personnel who were recruited laterally from another country, permission to wear medals awarded for service in another country must be obtained by submitting form MD 1655.  Completing the application form

Please complete the Medals application form, scan and email it to NZDF.PAM@NZDF.MIL.NZ.  Alternatively you may post it to:NZDF Personnel Archives and Medals
Headquarters New Zealand Defence Force
Private Bag 905
UPPER HUTT 5140Please include the following information about the service person in your application:  Full name

• Date of birth
• Date of death (if applicable)
• Service number
• Service (i.e. Navy, Army, Air Force)

Additional information you might want to include is:

• Rank and Service (Army/Navy/Air Force)
• Regiment/Battalion/Unit/Ship
• Period of Service
• Next of Kin, Address and Occupation at time of Enlistment
• Don’t forget to include your current postal address, phone number and email address

Applying for a long service award (good conduct is required)

All Regular and Territorial members of the Armed Forces of New Zealand who serve for the required period and have a record of irreproachable conduct and character are recognised by a long service and good conduct award, governed by a New Zealand Royal Warrant. The full eligibility criteria are outlined in the NZDF Long Service Awards Regulations 2020.

To apply for a long service award please complete the Medals application form and email it to NZDF.PAM@nzdf.mil.nz  alternatively you may post it to:

NZDF Personnel Archives and Medals
Headquarters New Zealand Defence Force
Private Bag 905
UPPER HUTT 5140

Good conduct is required for the entire period of qualifying service towards a long service award.

For a Regular Force officer, soldier, sailor or airman who has served on or after 1 December 1977 this means that he or she must have at least 14 years of unbroken good conduct to qualify for a long service award.

An adverse recordable occurrence (often called a ‘recordable entry’) breaks the period of good conduct.

A Regular Force officer, soldier, sailor or airman will need at least 14 years of unbroken good conduct after the adverse recordable occurrence to qualify for a long service award.

Medal duplicates and replacements

Replacement medals are only available for purchase during the lifetime of current and former NZDF serving members. The cost of the replacements is met by the applicant.  Personnel Archives and Medals will issue you a quote for the cost of replacing the lost medal/s when we receive your request.

Requesting replacement medals

To obtain replacement medals write to NZDF PAM at nzdf.pam@nzdf.mil.nz including a scanned copy of the attached Statutory Declaration swearing that you have lost your medals.  Alternatively, you may post your request and completed Statutory Declaration to:

NZDF Personnel Archives and Medals
Headquarters New Zealand Defence Force
Private Bag 905
UPPER HUTT 5140

NZDF does not provide duplicate sets of medals under any circumstances. Duplicate medals and replacement medal ribbon may be obtained through commercial providers which you will find by searching Google or using the yellow pages.

Medal mounting and medal ribbon bars

NZDF does not provide medal mounting services and medal ribbon bars for former NZDF service members and their families. Unfortunately we are unable to recommend a medal mounter to you so we suggest you identify your nearest one by searching on Google or using the yellow pages.

The mounting of medals and provision of medal ribbon bars at public (NZDF) expense is provided to NZDF serving personnel because they are required to wear medals on their uniform as a part of their employment.