NZDF Guide to the Order of Wear

• The Victoria Cross and the Victoria Cross for New Zealand
• The New Zealand Cross (1869) and the New Zealand Cross
• The George Cross

• Knight or Lady of the Most Noble Order of the Garter (KG/LG)
• Knight or Lady of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle (KT/LT)
• Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (GCB)
• Member of the Order of Merit (OM)
• Member of the Order of New Zealand
• The Baronet's Badge (Bart or Bt)
• Knight or Dame Grand Companion, or Principal Companion, of the New Zealand Order of Merit (GNZM OR PNZM)
• Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (GCMG)
• Knight or Dame of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO)
• Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (GBE)
• Member of the Order of Companions of Honour (CH)
• Knight or Dame Companion, or Distinguished Companion, of the New Zealand Order of Merit (KNZM/DNZM or DCNZM)
• Knight or Dame Commander of the Most Honourable Order of Bath ((KCB/DCB)
• Knight or Dame Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (KCMG/DCMG)
• Knight or Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO/DCVO)
• Knight or Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE/DBE)
• Knight Bachelor's Badge
• Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM)
• Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB)
• Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (CMG)
• Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
• Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
• The New Zealand Gallantry Star (NZGS)
• The New Zealand Bravery Star (NZBS)
• Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
• Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO)
• Companion of the King's Service Order (KSO)
• Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM)
• Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE)
• Companion of the Imperial Service Order (ISO)
• Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO)
• Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM)
• Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE)

• The New Zealand Gallantry Decoration (NZGD)
• The New Zealand Bravery Decoration (NZBD)
• The Royal Red Cross (1st Class or Member) (RRC)
• The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
• The Military Cross (MC)
• The Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
• The Air Force Cross (AFC)
• The Royal Red Cross (2nd Class or Associate) (ARRC)

• Order of Saint John (Six Grades)
  • I - Bailliff or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St John (GCStJ)
  • II - Knight or Dame of Justice or of Grace of the Order of St John (KStJ)
  • III - Chaplain or Commander of the Order of St John (ChStJ/CStJ)
  • IV - Officer of the Order of St John (OStJ)
  • V - Member of the Order of St John (MStJ) - before 1 January 2007, Member was designated Serving Brother or Serving Sister of the Order of St John (SBStJ/SSStJ)

• The Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)
• The Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (CGM)
• The George Medal (GM)
• The Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry (QPM)
• The Queen's Fire Service Meal for Gallantry (QFSM)
• The Distinguished Service Medal (DSM)
• The Military Medal (MM)
• The Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM)
• The Air Force Medal (AFM)
• The King's Gallantry Medal (KGM)
• The New Zealand Gallantry Medal (NZGM)
• The New Zealand Bravery Medal (NZBM)

• The King’s Service Medal and the Queen's Service Medal
• The New Zealand Antarctic Medal
• The New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration
• The British Empire Medal 

• The New Zealand Medal
• The Queen's South Africa Medal
• The King's South Africa Medal
• The 1914 Star (also known as the Mons Star)
• The 1914-1915 Star
• The British War Medal 1914-1920
• The Mercantile Marine War Medal
• The Victory Medal

• The 1939-1945 Star
• The Atlantic Star
• The Air Crew Europe Star
• The Arctic Star
• The Africa Star
• The Pacific Star
• The Burma Star
• The Italy Star
• The France and Germany Star
• The Defence Medal
• The War Medal 1939-1945
• The New Zealand War Service Medal
• The Greek Commemorative Medal is not worn with the Second World War Campaign Medals. It is worn in the foreign awards section of the Order of Wear.

The New Zealand Operational Service Medal (NZOSM) is always worn before any of the medals listed below, except for awards of the Naval General Service Medal (NGSM) 1915-1962 or the General Service Medal (GSM) 1918-1962 for service before 3 September 1945.  Former British military personnel who served in the United Kingdom Armed Forces in the 1920s and 1930s and later joined the New Zealand military are the most likely group to have the NZOSM mounted after the NGSM or the GSM 1918-1962.

Campaign medals are worn in order of date of participation in campaign, operation, or peacekeeping mission for which the medal was awarded.  This includes United Nations (UN), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) mission, and European Union (EU) mission medals. Because service dates vary, different individuals may wear their campaign medals in different orders. For example: 

• A person who served in the Sinai in the 1980s will wear the NZGSM 1992 (Non-Warlike) with clasp 'SINAI' before their NZGSM 2002 (Timor-Leste). 
• Someone who served in Timor-Leste before serving in the Sinai will wear the NZGSM 2002 (Timor-Leste) first.

The list below shows the order of campaign medals as a general guide. It must be interpreted for each individual based on when they served in theatre.

Note: All campaign medals listed below are worn before the New Zealand Special Service Medal.

• The New Zealand Service Medal 1946 - 1949. Always worn before the Korea Medal if both are awarded.
• The Korea Medal
• The United Nations Medal (Korea).  Always worn after the Korea Medal if both medals were awarded.
• The United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation Medal. This medal is awarded for eligible service that continues to the present day.  As such, it may be worn in a different order according to the time served in theatre.  
• The United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan
• The United Nations Medal and The United Nations Special Service Medal. These Medals are awarded for eligible service that continues to the present day.  As such, they may be worn in a different order according to the time served in theatre.  
• The Naval General Service Medal 1915-1962
• The General Service Medal 1918-1962
• The New Zealand General Service Medal 1992 (Non-Warlike) with clasp 'KOREA 1954-57'
• The New Zealand General Service Medal 1992 (Warlike) with clasp 'MALAYA 1960-64'
• The General Service Medal 1962 with clasps 'BORNEO' and 'MALAY PENINSULA'
• The Vietnam Medal
• The New Zealand General Service Medal 1992 (Warlike) with clasp 'VIETNAM'
• The Rhodesia Medal
• The New Zealand General Service Medal 1992 (Non-Warlike) with clasp 'INDIAN OCEAN'
• The New Zealand General Service Medal 1992 (Non-Warlike) with clasp 'SINAI'
• The New Zealand General Service Medal 1992 (Warlike) with clasp 'KUWAIT'
• The New Zealand General Service Medal 1992 (Non-Warlike) with clasp 'SOMALIA'
• The New Zealand General Service Medal 1992 (Non-Warlike) with clasp 'RWANDA'
• The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Medal for the Former Yugoslavia
• The East Timor Medal
• The New Zealand General Service Medal 2002 (Solomon Islands)
• The New Zealand General Service Medal 2002 (Korea)
• The New Zealand General Service Medal 2002 (Afghanistan: Primary Operational Area) and The New Zealand General Service Medal 2002 (Afghanistan: Secondary Operational Area). May be worn together.
• The NATO Medal for Kosovo
• The NATO Medal for Non-Article 5 Operations in the Balkans
• The New Zealand General Service Medal 2002 (Iraq 2003)
• The NATO Medal for the Non-Article 5 ISAF Operation in Afghanistan. Approved for wear for service up to 31 December 2014.
• The European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) Service Medal
• The New Zealand General Service Medal 2002 (Timor Leste)
• The New Zealand General Service Medal 2002 (Counter-Piracy)
• The NATO Medal for Africa. Nearly all NZDF recipients of the NATO Medal for Africa completed the qualifying service for the NZGSM 2002 (Counter-Piracy) first. A small number completed the qualifying service for both medals on the same day.
• The New Zealand General Service Medal 2002 (Iraq 2015)
• The New Zealand General Service Medal 2002 (Greater Middle East)
• The NATO Medal for Afghanistan. For service with Operation Resolute from 1 January 2015.

• The New Zealand Special Service Medal is worn in order of date of award.
• The New Zealand Special Service Medal (Nuclear Testing)
• The New Zealand Special Service Medal (Erebus)
• The New Zealand Special Service Medal (Asian Tsunami)

• The Polar Medal

• The Imperial Service Medal

• King George V's Coronation Medal 1911
• King George V's Silver Jubilee Medal 1935
• King George VI's Coronation Medal 1937
• Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation Medal 1953
• Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee Medal 1977
• Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee Medal 2002 (United Kingdom)
• Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Medal 2012 (United Kingdom)
• Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Medal 2022 (United Kingdom)
• King Charles III's Coronation Medal 2023 (United Kingdom)
• The New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal
• The New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993

• The New Zealand Meritorious Service Medal
• The New Zealand Defence Meritorious Service Medal
• The New Zealand Police Meritorious Service Medal
• The New Zealand Public Service Meritorious Service Medal
• The New Zealand Armed Forces Award
• The New Zealand Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
• The Royal New Zealand Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
• The Royal New Zealand Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
• The New Zealand Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
• The New Zealand Fire Brigades Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
• The New Zealand Prison Service Medal
• The New Zealand Traffic Service Medal
• The New Zealand Customs Service Medal
• The Efficiency Decoration/The New Zealand Efficiency Decoration (ED)
• The Efficiency Medal/The New Zealand Efficiency Medal
• The Royal New Zealand Naval Reserve Decoration (RD)
• The Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve Decoration (VRD)
• The Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
• The Air Efficiency Award/The New Zealand Air Efficiency Award (AE)
• The Queen's Medal for Champion Shots of the New Zealand Naval Forces
• The Queen's Medal for Champion Shots of the New Zealand Military Forces
• The Queen's Medal for Champion Shorts of the New Zealand Air Forces
• The Cadet Forces Medal

• The New Zealand Defence Service Medal

The Australian Defence Medal may be worn by former Australian Defence Force personnel who subsequently jointed the New Zealand military.

• The British Nuclear Test Medal

Papua New Guinea Independence Medal

The Service Medal of the Order of St. John

United Kingdom

Up until the 1990s, United Kingdom orders, decorations, and medals were issued by both the British and New Zealand governments.  As a result, these awards may be worn according to the New Zealand Order of Wear specified above.  

If an award is not specifically listed above, the award may be worn following the comparable or equivalent New Zealand order, decoration, or medal.  

Orders, decorations, and medals are worn in order of date of award.  

The Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM) Medal

The PJM is approved for wear by all eligible individuals. 

For all other foreign awards, individual approval must be granted to wear any orders, decorations, and medals awarded to a New Zealand citizen by a foreign nation.  For NZDF serving personnel, permission to wear a foreign award must be obtained by submitting form MD 1456. For those NZDF serving personnel recruited laterally from another country, permission to wear medals awarded for service in another country must be obtained by submitting form MD 1655.

For a list of awards approved for individuals in the past, see Commonwealth and Foreign Awards.

The French Legion of Honour - Level 5 - 'Chevalier'

The French Legion of Honour “Chevalier” Level 5 is worn in New Zealand after any United Kingdom / New Zealand medals and awards, but before any foreign medals.  It is worn on the same medal bar as the United Kingdom / New Zealand medals and awards.
 This applies to both the full-size award and the miniature. Only the level 3 badge (Commander and above) is worn from the neck.  Currently, New Zealand does not have any holders of this Order at the Commander level or above.

Foreign orders and decorations are worn in order of date of award. 

For all other foreign awards, individual approval must be granted by the Governor General to wear any orders, decorations, and medals awarded to a New Zealand citizen by a foreign nation.  In some cases, approval will not be given.  For NZDF serving personnel, permission to wear a foreign award must be obtained by submitting form MD 1456. For those NZDF serving personnel recruited laterally from another country, permission to wear medals awarded for service in another country must be obtained by submitting form MD 1655.

For more information on wearing foreign awards, see NZDF Policy for Commonwealth and Foreign Awards.

Foreign campaign medals are worn in order of date of participation in the campaign, operation, or peacekeeping mission for which the medal was awarded.  Foreign medals to individuals, for example, the United States Army Commendation Medal, are worn according to the date approved by the respective foreign government.

The following foreign medals are approved for wear on the NZDF uniform by all eligible individuals:

The Greek Commemorative Medal

The Korean War Service Medal

The South Vietnamese Campaign Medal

The Multinational Force and Observers Medal

The Timor-Leste Solidarity Medal (Medalha Solidariedade de Timor-Leste)

For all other foreign awards, individual approval must be granted by the Governor General to wear any orders, decorations, and medals awarded to a New Zealand citizen by a foreign nation.  In some cases, approval will not be given.  For NZDF serving personnel, permission to wear a foreign award must be obtained by submitting form MD 1456. For those NZDF serving personnel recruited laterally from another country, permission to wear medals awarded for service in another country must be obtained by submitting form MD 1655.

For more information on wearing foreign awards, see NZDF Policy for Commonwealth and Foreign Awards.

United Nations medals are worn in order of date of participation in the mission or peacekeeping operation.  Service with the following missions has been approved for acceptance and wear on New Zealand uniforms:

• First United Nations Emergency Force - Middle East (UNEF I) - 1956
• United Nations Observation Group in Lebanon (UNOGIL) - 1958
• United Nations Operation in the Congo (ONUC) - 1960
• United Nations Yemen Observation Mission (UNYOM) 1963-1964
• United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) – 1964-1967
• United Nations India-Pakistan Observation Mission (UNMOGIP) - 1952-1976
• Second United Nations Emergency Force II - Middle East (UNEF II) - 1973
• United Nations Disengagement Observer Force - Golan Heights (UNDOF) – 1974; 1982; 1986
• United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) -  1978-1979; 1981-1982; 1986
• United Nations Iran/Iraq Military Observer Group (UNIIMOG) – 1988-1991
• United Nations Transition Assistance Group – Namibia (UNTAG)-  1989-1990
• United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM II and UNAVEM III) – 1991-1997
• United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA) – 1997-2000
• United Nations Advance Mission in Cambodia (UNAMIC) 1991-1992
• United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia /United Nations Military Liaison Team (UNTAC) – 1992-1993
• United Nations Operations in Somalia (UNOSOM and UNOSOM II) – 1992-1994
• United Nations Protection Force - Former Yugoslavia(UNPROFOR) – 1992-1996
• United Nations Confidence Restoration Operation – Croatia (UNCRO) 1995-1996
• United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH) – 1994-1995
• United Nations Operation in Mozambique (ONUMOZ) – 1994-1995
• United Nations Preventive Deployment Force - Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (UNPREDEP) – 1995-1999
• United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium (UNTAES) – 1995-1997
• United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka (UNMOP) – 1995-2002
• United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL) – 1998-2005
• United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) – 1998-2005
• United Nations Assistance Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) - 1999
• United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) – 1999-2002
• United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) – 2002-2005
• United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) 1999-2008
• United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) – 2005-2011
• United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) – 2006-2012
• United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) – 2011-current
• United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) – 2012
• United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) 2018-2019 

The following commendations are worn on the right breast and are not included in the Order of Wear:

• Chief of Defence Force Commendation
• Chief of Air Force Commendation
• Chief of Army Commendation
• Chief of Navy Commendation
• New Zealand Defence Force Commendation

Unit citations are worn on the right breast by eligible personnel and veterans. 

• The Korean Presidential Unit Citation has been approved for wear for those who served with the 16th Field Regiment in Korea between 15 December 1950 and 1 November 1951 may permanently wear this citation. Current service members of the 16th Field Regiment may wear the citation as a dress distinction only while they serve with the 16th Field Regiment.
• The United States Navy Presidential Unit Citation has been approved for wear for members of the New Zealand Special Air Service (SAS) who served with the CJSOTF-SOUTH. Personnel subsequently posted to the unit may wear the citation emblem only while serving with the unit.
• The United States Army Meritorious Unit Commendation has been approved for wear by personnel who were posted to the 161 Battery, Royal New Zealand Artillery, between 15 July 1965 and 5 June 1966. Personnel subsequently posted to the unit may wear the citation only while serving with the unit.
• The Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Presidential Unit Citation has been approved for permanent wear by personnel who were posted to 161 Battery, Royal New Zealand Artillery between 17 July 1965 and the time of the unit’s withdrawal from Vietnam in 1972. Personnel subsequently posted to the unit may wear the insignia only while serving with the unit.
• The Australian Meritorious Unit Citation has been approved for wear by personnel who were:
  • posted to 3 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force for service in East Timor between 20 September 1999 and 30 November 2002 as part of the Australian-led International Force East Timor (INTERFET) and with successive Australian and New Zealand battalions. Personnel subsequently posted to 3 Squadron wear the citation without the silver star and only while serving with the unit.
  • posted to the Force Communications Unit, Cambodia 1992-1993 for service in Cambodia between 15 March 1992 and 7 October 1993. Awarded in 2014 to the Australian Defence Force personnel and offered by the Australian Government to the New Zealand Defence Force personnel who served in Cambodia in the Force Communications Unit. Because the Force Communications Unit ceased to exist on completion of the mission, there is no current NZDF unit that is permitted to wear the citation.

The medal or ribbon of the Florence Nightingale Memorial Medal, instituted in 1912, is worn on the right breast.