The Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
Overview
The Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal was instituted in 1985, with eligibility backdated to also include ratings who had retired between 1 December 1977 and 5 May 1985. It is awarded to Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve ratings and Royal New Zealand Naval Reserve ratings who have completed fourteen years of service. For those who first enlisted on or before 30 June 2021, at least twelve of the fourteen years must be efficient. For those attested on or after 1 July 2021, all fourteen years must be efficient.
There are no post-nominal letters for this medal.
Clasps are awarded for each additional seven years of efficient service.
Awards issued between 1985 and 2020 were assessed under the longer length of service (fifteen years for the medal and ten years for each clasp) specified in the 1985 Royal Warrant. Recipients who now qualify for a first clasp or extra clasp(s) under the criteria in the 2020 Regulations (fourteen years for the medal and seven years for each clasp) can apply for their clasp.
Another change in 2020 was to extend the eligibility to include ratings in the Royal New Zealand Naval Reserve.
The Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserver Long Service and Good Conduct Medal is identical to the British award, the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, which was adopted for use in New Zealand in 1925 when the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (New Zealand) was created. The Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (New Zealand) became the RNZNVR in the late 1940s.
Description
The medal is silver in colour and circular in shape, featuring the uncrowned image of the Sovereign on the front. The back shows a battleship and the words "Diuturne Fidelis," which means "Faithful Over Time."
The ribbon is blue with a broad green stripe in the centre flanked by narrow crimson stripes.
The clasp is a silver rosette added to the ribbon when worn alone.
Eligibility
Members of the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve who have served since 1 December 1977, whose conduct has been irreproachable, who are recommended by their commanding officer, and who complete the following qualifying service:
- For those who first enlisted on or before 30 June 2021, fourteen years of service, at least twelve of the which must be efficient.
- For those attested on or after 1 July 2021, all fourteen years must be efficient.
- Clasps are awarded for each additional seven years of efficient service.
For full details:
The New Zealand Defence Force Long Service Awards Regulations (2020)(external link)
Queries & requests
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Wearing this medal
The Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal is worn with the Merit, Efficiency, and Service Awards in the New Zealand Order of Wear. It is worn after the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve Decoration and before the Air Efficiency Award/New Zealand Air Efficiency Award.
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.