Obverse: A Crowned Effigy of the Sovereign.
Reverse: The inscription "THE NEW ZEALAND GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL" within a wreath of New Zealand flora (Pohutukawa blossom, fern fronds, and kowhai blossom) ensigned by a Royal Crown.
Size: 36mm in diameter.
Ribbon: 32mm wide. Dark blue with a light red centre and a narrow central white stripe.
Suspension: By a plain straight suspender.
Clasps Issued: 13
This medal was instituted on 7th May 1992. It was issued in bronze to recognise service in non-warlike operations for which no separate New Zealand, British Commonwealth, United Nations or NATO campaign medal was issued. By the time it was replaced in 2002, twelve clasps had been issued for non-warlike (peacekeeping) operations since 1954 in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific.
The medal is still issued to New Zealand personnel who are currently serving in Cambodia, Mozambique and the Sinai. This is because these operations commenced before 1 January 2000. Operations which commenced on or after 1 January 2000 are recognised by the New Zealand General Service Medal 2002.
The medal is awarded with a clasp to describe where an individual served. It is worn as a war medal, in order of date of qualification. The New Zealand General Service Medal 1992 has also been issued in silver for warlike operations.
The design and colours of the ribbon are based upon The New Zealand Medal 1845-1847 and 1860-1866, thus are directly linked with the beginnings of New Zealand's military history. As the first occasion upon which New Zealand had issued a war or warlike service medal outside of the two World Wars or the Vietnam War it was considered that the link with the first military campaigns in New Zealand best reflected New Zealand's military heritage.
The clasp "INDIAN OCEAN" was instituted on 23rd July 2002.
Qualification for Award
A person qualifies for the award of the Medal and Clasp if he or she was posted or attached to Her Majesty's New Zealand Ships Canterbury or Waikato, or both, while those ships were under the operational command of Royal Navy Task Group 321.1, and:-
(a) had 30 days service or more, continuous or aggregated, between:-
(i) 21 June 1982 and 11 August 1982;
(ii) 12 August 1982 and 13 November 1982;
(iii) 23 November 1982 and 15 March 1983;
(iv) 26 June 1983 and 20 September 1983; or
(b) had his or her period of service terminated before the completion of the qualifying time required in paragraph (a) due to death or evacuation owing to wounds or other disability caused by that service; or
(c) did not complete the qualifying time required by paragraph (a), but was given a royal honour for gallantry or bravery; or
(d) had his or her period of service terminated before the completion of the qualifying time required in paragraph (a) due to the withdrawal of the New Zealand Defence Force at the request of the New Zealand Government and the award has been approved by the Chief of Defence Force; or
(e) had his or her period of service terminated before the completion of the qualifying time required in paragraph (a) at the request of the Chief of Defence Force for service reasons (not personal or compassionate) and the award has been approved by the Chief of Defence Force.
Other clasps have been awarded for:
Korea 1954-57
Korea 1958-2000
Thailand
Sinai
Peshawar
Arabian Gulf
Iraq
Somalia
Mozambique
Cambodia
Rwanda
Bougainville
Royal Warrant For This Award: View Warrant (PDF document)
Regulations For This Award: View Regulations (PDF document)
Click on thumbnail
for larger image