The New Zealand Medal
Overview
The New Zealand Medal was instituted in 1869. While it is British, the medal can be described as New Zealand's first indigenous campaign medal. It was awarded for service in the New Zealand Wars of 1845-47 and 1860-66. The Medal was awarded to members of the British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Marines, and to colonial volunteers.
Description
The New Zealand Medal is silver and circular in shape. The obverse features the veiled head of Queen Victoria. On the reverse, is the date of the recipient's service in a wreath, with NEW ZEALAND around the top and VIRTUTIS HONOR (honour of valour) around the foot. Some medals were issued without the recipient's dates of service.
The medal is suspended by a bar of ornamented New Zealand fern fronds.
The ribbon is blue with a central orange stripe.
The New Zealand Medal is unusual in that the recipient's dates of service were die-struck on the centre of the reverse; however some medals were issued without the dates.
Eligibility
British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Marines, and colonial volunteers who served in the New Zealand Wars of 1845-47 and 1860-66.
Important note: This medal is no longer issued by NZDF Personnel Archives and Medals.
Recipients
Approximately 3950 New Zealand Medals were issued to those who served in colonial units (Richard Stowers, New Zealand Medal to Colonials, 10th Updated Edition, 2014, pg. 157)
Queries & requests
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Related publications
Detailed information on the New Zealand Medal and its award to Colonial Volunteer units and to Imperial British units is provided in Geoffrey P. Oldham and Brett Delahunt's book, Orders, Decorations and Medals Awarded to New Zealanders: An Illustrated Guide for Collectors (1st edition, Auckland, 1991), pp.41-46. This book also lists the number of officers and men in each of the New Zealand Volunteer units.
Richard Stowers' book, The New Zealand Medal to Colonials: Detailed Medal Rolls of Officers and Men in Colonial Units who Received the New Zealand Medal for Service in the New Zealand Wars, 1845-1872, (8th updated edition, Hamilton, 2005), is another very useful source on the awards of the New Zealand Medal.
Lists of Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel who have been awarded the New Zealand Medal are contained in W.H. Fevyer and J.W. Wilson's publication, The New Zealand Medal 1845-47, 1860-66, The Abyssinian War Medal 1867, to the Royal Navy and The Royal Marines (no date, published or possibly re-printed by Naval and Military Press). The lists of names in this book have been transcribed from Admiralty Medal Roll records held in the custody of the UK Public Record Office.
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Wearing this medal
The New Zealand Medal is worn with medals as a war medal in the New Zealand Order of Wear. It is worn after medals for meritorious service and before the Queen's South Africa Medal.
For more information on the wear and care of honours, medals, and awards:
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Checking eligibility and applying for this medal
NZDF Personnel Archives and Medals no longer issues the New Zealand Medal.
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Checking if this medal was issued
NZDF Personnel Archives and Medals does not hold records from the New Zealand Wars. However, the Wellington Reading Room at Archives New Zealand (external link) holds an alphabetical War Medal card index which includes references to the New Zealand Medal. The Auckland Museum's Online Cenotaph(external link) provides some information on servicemembers who served in the New Zealand Wars and many other conflicts throughout New Zealand's military history.