The East Timor Medal

Overview

The East Timor Medal was instituted in 2001.  It recognises New Zealand personnel (both military and non-military) who served in East Timor from the commencement of the New Zealand involvement in June 1999 until 27 April 2006. The New Zealand Defence Force involvement in East Timor during the period was New Zealand's largest operational military commitment since the Korean War.

This campaign medal is unique in that it has been awarded to civilians from more than a dozen New Zealand government, philanthropic, or commercial organisations.  The award of the East Timor Medal to these civilians recognises their valuable participation New Zealand's efforts to protect and assist the East Timorese people, and in the reconstruction of East Timor.  

Description

The medal is silver in colour and is circular in shape. On the obverse is the Effigy of the Sovereign within the Royal styles and titles for New Zealand.  On the reverse is a representation of the head of a kiwi over a map of East Timor with the words 'EAST TIMOR' below and, in the top right of the reverse, a sprig of olive leaves. This design alludes to the presence of New Zealanders (‘the Kiwis’), both Defence and civilian personnel, in East Timor. The sprig of olive leaves symbolises peace.

The colours of the ribbon are (from left to right) white, black, red, green, red, black and white. The colours allude to the national colours of New Zealand (black and white) and of East Timor (green and red).

A silver clasp “East Timor” was awarded to those who completed 365 days' continuous or aggregated service in East Timor between 19 June 1999 and 27 April 2006.

Eligibility

• Members of the NZ Defence Force who, between 19 June 1999 and 31 December 2002:
  • served a day or more on the posted strength of a unit or formation on land in the operational area
  • served 7 days or more, continuous or aggregated, in ships or craft in the operational area or in the operational area as part of a support element of a New Zealand Government contribution to a United Nations mission or an international force; or
  • completed  7 sorties over the operational area as aircrew on the posted strength of a unit allocated for direct support of operations; or
  • served  30 days or more, continuous or aggregated, for official visits, inspections, or other occurrences of a temporary nature on duty in the operational area.
• Members of the NZ Police and civilians who, between 19 June 1999 and 31 December 2002:
  • served a day or more on land in the operational area working with or alongside the United Nations, a New Zealand Government contribution to a United Nations mission, or an international force; or
  • served  30 days or more, continuous or aggregated, for official visits, inspections, or other occurrences of a temporary nature in the operational area.
• Members of the NZ Defence Force, NZ Police and civilians who served  30 days or more, continuous or aggregated, in the operational area between 1 January 2003 to April 2006, directly involved in operational service, or supporting operational activities, with the East Timorese Defence Force (Force Defence Timor-Leste), the Timorese Office of Defence Force Development, or the United Nations.

For full details:

Royal Warrant for the East Timor Medal(external link)

Amendment to the Royal Warrant for East Timor Medal(external link)

Recipients

This medal was issued to over 5,100 New Zealanders, including more than 4,900 New Zealand Defence Force personnel, 59 New Zealand Police, as well as civilians from the New Zealand Red Cross, Oxfam, Department of Corrections, New Zealand Customs Service, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Quarantine Service, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, New Zealand Qualifications Authority, the International Olympic Committee, Airways Consulting Ltd, Vincent Aviation, and Radiola Corporation Ltd.