The New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration (DSD)

Overview

The New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration was instituted as a New Zealand Royal Honour in 2007 to recognise distinguished military service, by regular, territorial and reserve members of the New Zealand Defence Force, including command, leadership and service in an operational environment, or in support of operations.

Until 1995 this type of 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, these British awards have not been available to New Zealand military personnel.

Description

The Decoration is made of Sterling Silver. The obverse design is a representation of eight blades of a Kotiate (lobed club) in a circle with a St Edward’s Crown (Royal Crown) in the centre. The front four blades are frosted silver, the rear blades are polished silver. The reverse bears the inscriptions “FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE” and “MŌ NGĀ TE MAHI KAHURANGI”.

A Kotiate or “liver cutter” is a lobed, or fiddle-shaped, war club made of hard wood or bone, the blades of which may be plain or decoratively carved. This type of club was used as both a weapon and an item of personal adornment. In addition, it was used to reflect status, rank, authority, pride, mana or ceremonial importance, similar to the use of military swords.

The ribbon is blue and red, with two narrow yellow stripes that signify ‘achievement’. Red and Blue are traditional military colours and have been used for medal ribbons since the first Military General Service Medal (1793 - 1814), the Waterloo Medal (1815) and the (British) Distinguished Service Order.

The recipient’s name and date of the award are engraved on the reverse of the Decoration between the two inscriptions.

Members have the privilege of adding the letters D.S.D after their names.

Eligibility

The Decoration may be awarded to all military ranks of the NZDF, or uniformed members of allied forces operating with or alongside units of the New Zealand Defence Force. The Decoration may be awarded for the outstanding performance of military duties in either warlike or non-warlike operations and for individual efforts toward peacetime and humanitarian service which brings great credit to the New Zealand Defence Force and contributes significantly, through exceptional devotion to duty, dedication, judgement or application of skills to one or more of the following:

1. the conduct of an operational deployment;
2. the conduct of military training or a military operation or operations; and
3. the management and implementation of a project or activity with significant implications for the current or future capability of the New Zealand Defence Force.

The New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration also may be awarded for a singular accomplishment or instance of extraordinary performance of duty, or be awarded for superior cumulative efforts over a sustained period of time.

The Decoration and Bar to the Decoration may be awarded posthumously.

For full details:

The Royal Warrant forNew Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration(external link)

Regulations for the New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration(external link)

Recipients

As at 3 June 2019, 109 members of the New Zealand Defence Force have been awarded the New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration. There have been no second awards to the same person.