The New Zealand Bravery Decoration (NZBD)
Overview
The New Zealand Bravery Decoration (NZBD) is awarded for ‘acts of exceptional bravery in situations of danger'. It was instituted in 1999 as part of a Government initiative to replace British awards for bravery with distinctively New Zealand awards. The New Zealand Bravery Decoration replaced the Queen's Gallantry Medal, the Air Force Cross and the Air Force Medal.
Description
The New Zealand Gallantry Decoration is a silver cross with straight edges. At the centre sits a golden Royal Crown encircled by two golden New Zealand fern fronds crossed at the bottom. The reverse features the inscription 'For Bravery – Mo Te Maia'.
The ribbon is bright blue with three narrow stripes of red ochre (kokowhai).
Bars can be awarded for subsequent acts of bravery in situations of extreme danger. The bars are silver and bear two New Zealand fern fronds.
Recipients of this award are entitled to use the post-nominal letters N.Z.B.D. after their names.
Eligibility
- Civilians and military personnel who undertake acts of great bravery in situations of danger for which a New Zealand Gallantry Award or other award may be inappropriate.
- Citizens of other Commonwealth and foreign countries who undertake acts of great bravery in situations of danger.
For full details:
See the Royal warrant for the New Zealand Bravery Awards(external link)
Recipients
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet maintains a list of recipients of New Zealand Bravery Awards since in 1999. For more details:
Queries & requests
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Wearing this honour
The New Zealand Bravery Decoration is always worn after the New Zealand Gallantry Decoration and before the Royal Red Cross (1st Class or Member) in the New Zealand Order of Wear.
For more information on how to wear and care for honours, medals, and awards:
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Nominating someone for a Bravery Award
Current serving NZDF personnel may complete an MD592 and submit the form through Single Service chains of command. Self-nominations will not be accepted.
Nominations for ex-serving personnel or civilians may be made by completing a nomination form and forwarding it to the Honours Unit of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. In-depth guidelines for making a nomination and the nomination form are available for download on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet website.
See the guide to nominations for New Zealand Bravery Awards(external link)
The processing of nominations for Bravery Awards may take a considerable period of time, especially if the incident for which recognition is sought involves court, Courts martial, coroner, or other investigation.
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Checking if this honour was awarded
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 filling out the form on the Service Record page.