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David Baguley, Director Honours Secretariat shows the Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae the new distinguished service decoration.

New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa

Media Release

21 May 2007

NEW MEDAL FOR DEFENCE FORCE

The announcement today of a new medal, the Distinguished Service Decoration (DSD), is a major step towards acknowledging the commitment of Defence Force personnel throughout New Zealand and on overseas missions, says the Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae.

The new medal will recognise distinguished military service by regular, territorial and reserve members of the New Zealand Defence Force, including command and leadership and service in an operational environment, or in support of operations.

“At a time when the New Zealand Defence Force has more than 700 of its personnel on operations or deployments, the DSD is an important addition to the New Zealand Honours system,” said Lieutenant General Mateparae.

The first recipients of the DSD will be announced in the upcoming Queen’s Birthday Honours list on Monday 4 June. Recipients will be entitled to use the initials “D.S.D.” and will receive their awards at the regular investitures at Government House.

Until 1995 this type of military service was recognised by awards of the British Empire Medal (Military Division) and the lower levels of the Military Division of the Order of the British Empire. Since the change to a totally New Zealand Honours system in 1996, awards at these levels have not been available.

The Distinguished Service Decoration is an important addition to the New Zealand Honours system and will enjoy precedence comparable to that of The Queen’s Service Medal (QSM) and the recently instituted New Zealand Antarctic Medal (NZAM).

The new medal will be made of Sterling Silver. The obverse design is a representation of eight blades of a Kotiate (lobed club) in a circle with a Royal Crown in the centre. The front four blades are in frosted silver, the rear blades are polished silver. The reverse bears the inscription “For Distinguished Service” in English and Maori. The ribbon is dark blue and red, the colours of the British Distinguished Service Order ribbon, with two narrow yellow stripes that signify achievement.

ENDS

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