The New Zealand Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
Overview
Instituted by Royal Warrant in 1985 to replace the British Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct (Military), the New Zealand Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal is awarded to non-commissioned New Zealand Army personnel on completion of fourteen years' of unblemished service.
The Royal Warrant of 1985 backdated the eligibility for the New Zealand award to 1 December 1977 to include personnel who had been released since that time and required fifteen years of unblemished service. In 2020, the length of required unblemished service was reduced to fourteen years and clasps were added for each additional seven-year period of unblemished service. These changes are retrospective to those who served on or after 1 December 1977.
New Zealand Army soldiers who completed their military service prior to 1 December 1977 required eighteen years of service to be awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Military).
There are no post-nominal letters for this medal.
Description
The New Zealand Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal is silver and circular in shape, bearing on the obverse the Crowned Effigy of the Sovereign and on the reverse the inscription “For Long Service and Good Conduct.” The medal is attached to an ornamental title bar bearing the words “New Zealand” in raised letters and is suspended from a crimson ribbon edged with white.
Eligibility
Non-commissioned New Zealand Army personnel who completed fourteen years or more of unblemished service.
Those who completed their military service prior to 1 December 1977 required 18 years' service to be awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Military).
Under the 2020 warrant, clasps are awarded for each additional seven-year period of unblemished service. These changes are retrospective to those who served on or after 1 December 1977.
For full details:
The New Zealand Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal Royal Warrant (2020)(external link)
The New Zealand Defence Force Long Service Awards Regulations (2020)(external link)
The New Zealand Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal Royal Warrant (1985)(external link)
Queries & requests
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Wearing this medal
The New Zealand Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal is worn with merit, efficiency, and service awards in the New Zealand Order of Wear. It is worn after the New Zealand Armed Forces Award and before the Royal New Zealand Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
For more information on how to wear and care for honours, medals, and awards:
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Applying for this medal
NZDF Personnel Archives and Medals (PAM) issues war, operational and service medals to current and former NZDF members.
If you or someone you know may be eligible, you can apply through our application page.
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Checking if this medal was issued
Honours, medals, and awards bestowed on an individual for service in the New Zealand Armed Forces are recorded in their individual service record. NZDF Personnel Archives and Medals holds a collection of about 1.5 million service records relating to 420,000 New Zealand service personnel who served in New Zealand’s Military Forces after the First World War.
Service records are not currently digitised, but we can locate it and find the information you might be looking for or help you book a time for you to see the records in Trentham by completing the form on the Service Record page.