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New Zealand Honours

 

Wearing of Insignia ~ Order of Wear: Orders, Decorations and Medals in New Zealand

Approved 1 April 2008


The following list shows the sequence in which the insignia of Orders, and Decorations and Medals should be worn in New Zealand. It in no way affects the precedence conferred by the Statutes of certain Orders upon the members thereof. Post-nominal letters should be shown in the same sequence as the following “Order of Wear” except in the case of Baronets. Distinctive New Zealand honours are shown in bold.

SPECIAL AWARDS:

Victoria Cross for New Zealand
V.C.
New Zealand Cross
N.Z.C.
George Cross
G.C.

ORDERS OF CHIVALRY AND OTHER ORDERS:

Knight or Lady of the Order of the Garter
(not worn in miniature and the ribbon is not worn with undress uniform)

K.G. or L.G.
Knight or Lady of the Order of the Thistle
(not worn in miniature and the ribbon is not worn with undress uniform)

K.T. or L.T.
Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath1

G.C.B.
Member of the Order of Merit
(not worn in miniature)

O.M.
Member of The Order of New Zealand
(not worn in miniature)

O.N.Z.
Baronet’s Badge
(Bt. or Bart.)
Worn suspended round the neck by a ribbon in the same manner as the neck badge of an Order. It is not worn in miniature and the ribbon is not worn with undress uniform. The letters “Bt.” or “Bart.” are shown directly after the surname before all other post-nominal letters.
 
Principal Companion and Knight or Dame Grand Companion of
The New Zealand Order of Merit1
P.C.N.Z.M. and G.N.Z.M.
Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George1
G.C.M.G.
Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order1
G.C.V.O.
Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire1, 2
G.B.E.
Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour
(not worn in miniature)
C.H.
Distinguished Companion and Knight or Dame Companion of
The New Zealand Order of Merit1
D.C.N.Z.M. and K.N.Z.M. or D.N.Z.M.
Knight or Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath1
K.C.B. or D.C.B.
Knight or Dame Commander of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George1
K.C.M.G. or D.C.M.G.
Knight or Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order1
K.C.V.O. or D.C.V.O.
Knight or Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire1, 2

K.B.E. or D.B.E.
Knight Bachelor’s Badge
A Knight Bachelor may wear both the neck badge (received at an Investiture) and breast badge (purchased) at the same time. The neck badge is worn suspended round the neck by a ribbon in the same manner as the neck badge of an Order and the breast badge on the left side of the coat like the star of an Order. (There are no post-nominal letters for a Knight Bachelor.)
Companion of The New Zealand Order of Merit1
C.N.Z.M.
Companion of the Order of the Bath1
C.B.
Companion of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George1
C.M.G.
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order1
C.V.O.
Commander of the Order of the British Empire1, 2
C.B.E.
New Zealand Gallantry Star
N.Z.G.S.
New Zealand Bravery Star
N.Z.B.S.
Companion of the Distinguished Service Order
D.S.O.
Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order1
L.V.O.
Companion of The Queen’s Service Order
Q.S.O.
Officer of The New Zealand Order of Merit1
O.N.Z.M.
Officer of the Order of the British Empire1, 2
O.B.E.
Companion of the Imperial Service Order
I.S.O.
Member of the Royal Victorian Order
M.V.O.
Member of The New Zealand Order of Merit
M.N.Z.M.
Member of the Order of the British Empire2
M.B.E.

1See Note 1
2See Note 2

DECORATIONS:

New Zealand Gallantry Decoration
N.Z.G.D.
New Zealand Bravery Decoration
N.Z.B.D.
Royal Red Cross, (1st Class or Member)
R.R.C.
Distinguished Service Cross
D.S.C.
Military Cross
M.C.
Distinguished Flying Cross
D.F.C.
Air Force Cross
A.F.C.
Royal Red Cross, (2nd Class or Associate)
A.R.R.C.

ORDER OF ST JOHN (Six grades):
I Bailiff or Dame Grand Cross
G.C.St.J.
II Knight or Dame of Justice or Grace
K.St.J. or D.St.J.
III Chaplain
Ch.St.J.
III Commander
C.St.J.
IV Officer
O.St.J.
V Serving Brother or Serving Sister3
S.B.St.J. or S.S.St.J.
VI Esquire
Esq.St.J.
3From 1 January 2007 S.B.St.J. and S.S.St.J. will be designated “Member – M.St.J."

MEDALS FOR GALLANTRY AND BRAVERY:

Distinguished Conduct Medal
D.C.M.
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal
C.G.M.
George Medal
G.M.
Distinguished Service Medal
D.S.M.
Military Medal
M.M.
Distinguished Flying Medal
D.F.M.
Air Force Medal
A.F.M.
Queen’s Gallantry Medal
Q.G.M.
New Zealand Gallantry Medal
N.Z.G.M.
New Zealand Bravery Medal
N.Z.B.M.

MEDALS FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE:

Royal Victorian Medal (Gold, Silver, and Bronze)
R.V.M.
Queen’s Service Medal
Q.S.M.
New Zealand Antarctic Medal
N.Z.A.M.
Distinguished Service Decoration
D.S.D.
British Empire Medal2
B.E.M.
Queen’s Police Medal, for Distinguished Service
Q.P.M.

Queen’s Fire Service Medal, for Distinguished Service

2See Note 3(vi)
Q.F.S.M.

CAMPAIGN (including war, operational and peacekeeping) MEDALS

  

(Worn in order of date of participation in campaign or operation for which awarded.)1

1See Note 3

 


NEW ZEALAND SPECIAL SERVICE MEDAL
(Worn in order of date of award.)2
2See Note 3(vi)

POLAR MEDAL

(In order of date of award.)

JUBILEE, CORONATION AND NEW ZEALAND COMMEMORATION MEDALS:

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  
New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal  
New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993  

EFFICIENCY AND LONG SERVICE DECORATIONS AND MEDALS:

New Zealand Meritorious Service Medal
(formerly the Medal for Meritorious Service awarded only to members of the New Zealand Army)
  
New Zealand Armed Forces Award  
New Zealand Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
(formerly the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, Military)

 

Royal New Zealand Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal  
Royal New Zealand Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal  
New Zealand Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal    
New Zealand Fire Brigades Long Service and Good Conduct Medal    
New Zealand Prison Service Medal    
New Zealand Traffic Service Medal    
New Zealand Customs Service Medal (instituted 2008)  
Efficiency Decoration  
E.D.
Efficiency Medal    
Royal New Zealand Naval Reserve Decoration 
R.D.
Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve Decoration  
V.R.D.
Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal  
Air Efficiency Award
(Post-nominal letters may be used only when awarded to officers)
A.E.
Queen’s Medal (For champion shots of the New Zealand Naval Forces)  
Queen’s Medal (For champion shots of the Military Forces)  
Queen’s Medal (For champion shots of the Air Forces)  
Cadet Forces Medal  
Rhodesia Medal (1980)  

COMMONWEALTH INDEPENDENCE MEDALS:

Instituted by the Sovereign. Worn in order of date of award.)

MISCELLANEOUS MEDALS:

Service Medal of The Order of St John

COMMONWEALTH AWARDS –

(Instituted by the Sovereign as Head of State, other than in right of New Zealand or the United Kingdom.):

These awards may only be worn when the Sovereign's permission has been given.1 Worn in order of date of award. At the discretion of the holder, a Commonwealth award may be worn in a position comparable to, but following, the equivalent New Zealand or British Order, Decoration or Medal.

1See Note 5

OTHER COMMONWEALTH AWARDS –

(Instituted by Commonwealth countries of which the Sovereign is not Head of State.):

Instituted since 1949, otherwise than by the Sovereign, and awards by the states of Malaysia and the State of Brunei. Worn in order of date of award. These awards may only be worn when The Sovereign’s permission has been given.1

1See Note 5

FOREIGN AWARDS:

These awards may only be worn when the Sovereign’s permission has been given.1
 

1 See Note 5

 

NOTES

1.

Orders of Chivalry and other Orders

 

The ribbons of Orders, when the ribbon alone is worn will be of the width of the ribbon of the Membership (5th class or 5th level) of the Order. If there is no Membership class the ribbon will be of the width of the ribbon of the Companionship (3rd class or 3rd level) of the Order.

2.

Awards for Gallantry: Order of the British Empire and British Empire Medal

  i.
Appointments to, or promotions in, the Order of the British Empire and awards of the British Empire Medal, granted between 6 December 1957 and 19 June 1974 for gallantry, are so described, and a silver oak leaf emblem is worn on the ribbon. When the ribbon only is worn the emblem is worn in miniature. Classification of an award as made for gallantry has no effect on seniority of precedence in the various classes of the Order. A person appointed to the Order between 6 December 1957 and 19 June 1974, for gallantry, and subsequently promoted in the Order, retains and wears the insignia of the lower class with the emblem in addition to the insignia of the higher class whether promoted for gallantry or otherwise. A holder of the British Empire Medal for Gallantry, granted between 6 December 1957 and 19 June 1974, if subsequently appointed to the Order, continues to wear the emblem on the ribbon of the Medal.
  ii.
On the ribbon of the British Empire Medal for Gallantry, the gallantry emblem is worn above any bar which may have been granted, and when ribbons are worn alone the gallantry emblem is worn farther from the left shoulder than any silver rose emblem denoting the award of a bar.

3.

Campaign (including war, operational and peacekeeping) and Special Service Medals

  These medals are worn in the following sequence or in order of the date of participation in the relevant campaign or operation:
  i.
Campaign Stars and Medals awarded for service in the Second World War (1939–45) should be worn in the following order: 1939–45 Star, Atlantic Star, Air Crew Europe Star, Africa Star, Pacific Star, Burma Star, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939–45, New Zealand War Service Medal 1939-45.
  ii.
The New Zealand Operational Service Medal (instituted in 2002 for operational service completed from 3 Sep 1945) is worn after the New Zealand War Service Medal 1939–1945 and before any specific campaign medal.
  iii.
The New Zealand Service Medal 1946–1949 (instituted in 1995).
  iv.
The Korea Medal (1950-53) and the United Nations Service Medal for Korea are worn together where both are held.
  v.
The order of wearing the following will vary, and will depend upon, the dates of participation in the relevant campaigns or operations:
    a.
Naval General Service Medal (1915–1962).
    b.
General Service Medal (Army and RAF) (1918–1962).
    c.
The General Service Medal, 1962 (instituted in 1964).
    d.
The Vietnam Medal (1964) (instituted in 1968). [The Vietnamese Campaign Medal (star) is worn in accordance with the regulations governing foreign medals. See Note5.]
    e.
The New Zealand General Service Medal (instituted in 1992, in silver for war-like operations, and in bronze for non-warlike (peacekeeping) operations, with appropriate clasps).
    f.
The East Timor Medal (instituted in 2001).
    g.
The New Zealand General Service Medal (instituted in 2002, with a different ribbon for each operation). The New Zealand General Service Medal (instituted in 2002, with a different ribbon for each operation).
    h.
Service medals of the United Nations Organisation, European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, for which permission to accept and wear has been given.
  vi.
The order of wearing the following will vary, and will depend upon, the dates of participation in the relevant campaigns or operations:
  vii.
The Australian International Force East Timor (INTERFET) Medal is worn as a Commonwealth medal.
  viii.
The Medal of the Multi-National Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai is worn as a foreign medal.

4.

Mentions in Despatches, King’s Commendations and Queen’s Commendations

  i.
Mention in Despatches, 1939 – 1945. The single bronze oak leaf Emblem signifying in the Armed Forces and the Merchant Navy, either a Mention in Despatches, a King’s Commendation for brave conduct, or a King’s Commendation for valuable service in the air, if granted for service in the Second World War, 1939–45, is worn on the ribbon of the War Medal 1939-45. If the War Medal has not been granted, the Emblem is worn directly on the coat, after any Medal ribbons. (If there are no medal ribbons, the Emblem is worn in the position in which a single ribbon would be worn.)
  ii.
Mention in Despatches, 1945 – 1996. The single bronze oak leaf Emblem, if granted for service in operations after the cessation of hostilities in the Second World War, is worn on the ribbon of the appropriate General Service or Campaign Medal. If such a medal has not been granted, the Emblem is worn directly on the coat after any medal ribbons. (If there are no medal ribbons, the Emblem is worn in the position in which a single ribbon would be worn.)
  iii.
The single bronze oak leaf Emblem is also used in the Armed Forces to denote a King’s or Queen’s Commendation for brave conduct or a King’s or Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air granted since the cessation of hostilities in the Second World War.
  iv.
King’s Commendation for Brave Conduct, 1939 – 1945, and 1946 – 1951; Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct, 1952 – 1996. The Emblem of silver laurel leaves granted to civilians, other than those in the Merchant Navy, to denote a King’s Commendation for brave conduct during the Second World War, 1939–1945, is worn on the ribbon of the Defence Medal. When the Defence Medal has not been granted or the award is for services subsequent to the war, the Emblem of silver laurel leaves is worn directly on the coat after any medal ribbons. (If there are no medal ribbons, the Emblem is worn in the position in which a single ribbon would be worn.)
  v.
King’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air, 1939 – 1945, and 1946 –1951; Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air, 1952 – 1996. The oval silver Badge granted to denote a civil King’s Commendation or Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air is worn on the coat immediately below any medals or medal ribbons, or in civil airline uniform, on the panel of the left breast pocket. (If there are no medal ribbons, the Emblem is worn in the position in which a single ribbon would be worn.)

5.

Commonwealth and Foreign Orders, Decorations and Medals

  i.
Awards by Commonwealth countries of which the Sovereign is not Head of State and Foreign countries may only be worn when approval has been granted by the Sovereign for their acceptance and wear.
  ii.
The general rule is that when Commonwealth or Foreign awards are being worn on occasions specifically connected with the donor country, pride of place may be given to the awards of that country. On such occasions, a Commonwealth or Foreign award may be worn in preference, and in a position senior, to that of equivalent awards from the Sovereign. This does not require the wearer to change the order of wear on his/her medal bar.

6.

New Zealand Memorial Crosses

  i.
The New Zealand Memorial Cross, sanctioned by King George VI in 1947, is issued to certain relatives of New Zealand military and mercantile marine personnel who lost their lives while on active service during the period from 3 September 1939 to 2 September 1945, inclusive, or who died or subsequently die from causes attributable to that service. The Cross is worn from a narrow purple ribbon about the neck. Women may, however, wear the Cross on the left shoulder with the ribbon in the form of a bow. The Cross is not worn in miniature and the ribbon alone is not worn.
  ii.
The New Zealand Memorial Cross, sanctioned by Queen Elizabeth II in 1960, is issued to certain relatives of New Zealand military and mercantile marine personnel who have lost their lives while on operational service outside of New Zealand subsequent to 2 September 1945, or who died or subsequently die from causes attributable to that service. The Cross is in the form of a brooch and is worn on the left side below any personal decorations and medals. In uniform, it is worn on the pocket, below any personal decorations and medals. If no personal decorations or medals are held the Cross is worn in a comparable position. The Cross is not worn in miniature and there is no ribbon.
  iii.
The New Zealand Memorial Cross may be worn by the relatives on those occasions on which decorations and medals are worn. Those relatives who receive a Cross in respect of more than one deceased service man or woman may wear the additional Cross or Crosses.

7.

Lapel Badges and Rosettes

  i.
The lapel badges of the New Zealand Orders, Gallantry and Bravery Awards and the New Zealand Antarctic Medal are worn on the left lapel or left side of the dress, on those occasions the full-size or miniature insignia are not worn, at the discretion of the holder. Lapel badges are not worn when in uniform.
  ii.
The Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor rosette is worn by Knights Bachelor in the button-hole on the left lapel.
  iii.
The rosette (for Knights, Dames and Chaplains) and lapel button (for other grades) of the Order of St John are worn in the same manner as prescribed in paragraph 7i, above.
  iv.
Usually only one lapel badge or rosette is worn at a time.

8.

Life Saving Awards

 

The Order of St John Life Saving Medals (gold, silver and bronze) and the gold silver and bronze medals awarded by the Royal Humane Society of New Zealand, and ribbons denoting the same, may be worn on the right side of the coat on all occasions when official Orders, Decorations and Medals are worn.

9.

Obsolete and Other Awards

 
For the order of wear of obsolete Orders, Decorations and Medals and other awards not usually conferred on New Zealanders, enquiries should be made with the Honours Secretariat.

10.

Wearing of Decorations and Medals by Next of Kin or Family Members

  i.
The insignia of any order, decoration or medal, including miniatures, lapel badges and ribbons, may only be worn by the person to whom they are awarded.
  ii.
There is a convention or custom that is widely understood that the next of kin and other relatives may wear, on the right side only, on ANZAC and similar days of remembrance, the military service medals of deceased personnel. The convention is a matter of personal discretion and limited to days of remembrance It applies only to service medals and decorations mounted on a medal bar (full-size or miniature) and not to neck badges, sashes and sash badges, or breast stars.

11.

Awards Issued by Public and Private Organisations, and Commercially Produced Medals

  i.
Awards issued by public and private organisations, other than those of the Order of St John and the Royal Humane Society of New Zealand, may not be worn, either with, below or on the right side, with official Orders, Decorations and Medals.
  ii.
Awards produced on a commercial basis may not be worn, either with, below or on the right side, with official Orders, Decorations and Medals.

12.

Enquiries

    All enquiries regarding this "Order of Wear" should be directed in the first instance to the Director, Honours Secretariat, Cabinet Office, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Parliament Buildings, Wellington. The current, approved version of this "Order of Wear" is posted on the Honours Secretariat website, www.honours.govt.nz.