First New Zealand military medals featuring King Charles III unveiled

Ten personnel, who recently returned from a deployment to Operation Farad in Egypt, were the first to receive a New Zealand General Service Medal 1992 with clasp ‘Sinai’ featuring the effigy (image) of the King.

Deputy Director Medals Policy, Donald Anderson, says since the 1950s, the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has been on the front of tens of thousands of medals issued to members of the New Zealand Armed Forces.

“This is not a new medal, but rather a change to many existing New Zealand Royal honours following the accession of King Charles III.” 

Mr Anderson said after the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the New Zealand Cabinet Office sought King Charles III’s approval to use the 2013 Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of the King on relevant New Zealand Royal honours insignia for the duration of his reign.

“The changes apply to New Zealand campaign medals and long service awards which are being issued for service undertaken since 8 September 2022,” he said. 

Captain Joe Helu-Makasini was among those who received the updated New Zealand General Service Medal 1992 with clasp ‘Sinai’ at a presentation at Linton Military Camp yesterday.

His fiancé and other relatives attended the presentation ceremony.

“[A medal] is recognition for the work that we did over there, but it’s also like a reminder of the work that went on back home as well, whilst we’re away life doesn’t stop.” 

An artilleryman who serves with 16^th Field Regiment, Captain Helu-Makasini was deployed to the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) for six months as the senior instructor for the Force Training Team, helping to ensure personnel from different countries are on the same page and can work together smoothly. 

“Getting to deploy on an operational deployment is something that people in the organisation look forward to doing and some have to wait a while before they get a chance to do it. To have that opportunity to deploy was pretty awesome,” he said. 

The MFO ensures compliance with the commitments of the 1979 Treaty of Peace between Egypt and Israel, with New Zealand’s contribution demonstrating our enduring commitment to regional security.

Captain Helu-Makasini said there was noticeable extra caution while he was there. 

“We were quite lucky being on the fringe of the conflict going on between the US, Israel and Iran. We definitely kept an eye on it, but it had minimal impacts on our day-to-day working.”

Mr Anderson said NZDF staff who’d facilitated the medals transition were very proud to be involved in a significant moment in time, and to see military personnel awarded with medals bearing the effigy of the King.

The NZDF’s medals bearing the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II will be retired from general issue and will be issued only to people who have not previously claimed their medals, or as replacements for lost or damaged medals.