THE NEW ZEALAND OPERATIONAL SERVICE MEDAL

Obverse: A representation of the New Zealand Coat of Arms.

Reverse: A representation of a Kiwi, facing to the right, and below it the inscription "NEW ZEALAND" between two heraldic stars (mullets), and underneath the whole of which are three wavy lines and the inscription "FOR OPERATIONAL SERVICE".

Size: 36mm in diameter.

Ribbon: 32mm wide, the ribbon is composed of 11 alternating black and white stripes.

Suspension: By a plain straight suspender.

Instituted on 23rd July 2002, The New Zealand Operational Service Medal, made of silver plated base-metal and circular in shape, is awarded for operational service on or after 3 September 1945. In order of precedence, it is worn as a war medal immediately after The New Zealand War Service Medal and before any other war medals issued for service from 3 September 1945.

A person qualifies for the award of the Medal if he or she meets the requirements for eligibility and:-
(a) has been awarded either:-
(i) a New Zealand or Commonwealth, British, or other non-New Zealand medal for service in a war, or warlike or non-warlike (including peacekeeping) operation, and that medal has been approved for wearing as a war or campaign medal in the official list in which orders, decorations, and medals must be worn in New Zealand; or
(ii) The Rhodesia Medal (1980); or
(b) has served 7 days or more, continuous or aggregated, on the posted strength of a unit or formation on land and that service was a qualifying service towards 1 or more medals in paragraph (a); or
(c) has completed 7 sorties or more as aircrew or supernumerary crew and that service was a qualifying service towards 1 or more medals in paragraph (a); or
(d) had served 7 days or more, continuous or aggregated, in a ship or craft and that service was a qualifying service towards 1 or more medals in paragraph (a); or
(e) has served 30 days, continuous or aggregated, for official service visits, inspections, or other occurrences of a temporary nature and that service was a qualifying service towards 1 or more medals in paragraph (a); or
(f) has served 7 days, continuous or aggregated, on the posted strength of a unit permanently based in Singapore between 1 February 1959 and 31 July 1960; or
(g) has served 7 days either:-
(i) while posted to the New Zealand contribution to Operation Plainfare (Berlin Airlift) in West Germany between 1 September 1948 and 11 August 1949; or
(ii) was seconded to the Royal Air Force in West Germany and participated in Operation Plainfare; or
(h) any other operational service, irrespective of whether a war or campaign medal has been awarded for that service, that the Minister of Defence, on the advice of the Chief of Defence Force, may determine.

Accumulated Service
The Medal shall be awarded for only the first period of operational service that qualifies a person for a Medal.

Royal Warrant For This Award: View Warrant (PDF document)

Regulations For This Award: View Regulations (PDF document)

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