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The Pacific Star

The Pacific Star

Overview

The Pacific Star was awarded for operational service in the Pacific between 8 December 1941 and 2 September 1945.  The medal was also awarded for specified service in China, Hong Kong, Malaya, and Sumatra between 8 December 1941 and 23 March 1942.  Service in China, Hong Kong, Malaya, and Sumatra after March 1942 was recognised by the Burma Star.  

Description

The Pacific Star is a bronze six-pointed star with a circular centre featuring the Royal Cypher "GRI VI". The cypher is surmounted by the Tudor crown and encircled with the inscription "THE PACIFIC STAR".

The ribbon colours from left to right are:  red, dark blue, green, yellow, green, light blue, and red. The central yellow stripe represents the beaches while the green symbolises the jungles. The red, dark blue, and light blue represent the Army, Navy, and Air Force respectively.  

Personnel qualifying for both the Pacific Star and the Burma Star were awarded the first star they qualified for and a clasp representing the second star.  

Eligibility

The Pacific Star was awarded for service in the Pacific theatre between 8 December 1941 and 2 September 1945. For service in the Army and the Air Force, no prior service was required. For aircrew who did not already qualify by service on land, one operational sortie over a specified land or sea area was required. 

For Naval service, eligibility for the 1939-45 Star (180 days operational service) was required before a person could qualify for the Pacific Star. This requirement was waived for persons whose "entry into operational service" in the Pacific was on or after 7 March 1945, during the last six months of the War in the Pacific.

The full eligibility criteria for the eight Second World War campaign stars (instituted before 1947) and the two British war service medals can be viewed in Campaign Stars and Commemorative Medals instituted for the 1939-45 War, (PDF, 3.4 MB)a British Army pamphlet, issued in 1947 or 1948, which includes NZ Army handwritten annotations.

Queries & requests

  • Wearing this medal

    The Pacific Star is always worn after the Africa Star and before the Italy Star in the New Zealand Order of Wear.  Personnel will never wear both the Pacific Star and the Burma Star. 

    For more information on the wear and care of honours, medals and awards:

  • 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.

    Apply for unclaimed medals

  • 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. 

    Request a service record