3 May 2024
The following list shows the sequence in which the insignia of Orders, 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 (listed in the right-hand column, where applicable) 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 | Post-nominals |
| Victoria Cross for New Zealand | V.C. |
| New Zealand Cross | N.Z.C. |
| George Cross | G.C. |
Orders of chivalry and other orders and awards | |
| 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 Bath (see Note 1) | 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 (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.) | (Bt. or Bart.) |
| Knight or Dame Grand Companion and Principal Companion of The New Zealand Order of Merit (see Note 1) | G.N.Z.M. and P.C.N.Z.M. |
| Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (see Note 1) | G.C.M.G. |
| Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (see Note 1) | G.C.V.O. |
| Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (see Notes 1,2) | G.B.E. |
| Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (not worn in miniature) | C.H. |
| Knight or Dame Companion and Distinguished Companion of The New Zealand Order of Merit (see Note 1) | K.N.Z.M. or D.N.Z.M. and D.C.N.Z.M. |
| Knight or Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath (see Note 1) | K.C.B. or D.C.B. |
| Knight or Dame Commander of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (see Note 1) | K.C.M.G. or D.C.M.G. |
| Knight or Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (see Note 1) | K.C.V.O. or D.C.V.O. |
| Knight or Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (see Notes 1,2) | 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 around 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 Merit (see Note 1) | C.N.Z.M. |
| Companion of the Order of the Bath (see Note 1) | C.B. |
| Companion of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (see Note 1) | C.M.G. |
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (see Note 1) | C.V.O. |
| Commander of the Order of the British Empire (see Notes 1,2) | 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 Order (see Note 1) | L.V.O. |
| Companion of The King's Service Order (and the Companion of The Queen's Service Order) | K.S.O. and Q.S.O. |
| Officer of The New Zealand Order of Merit (see Note 1) | O.N.Z.M. |
| Officer of the Order of the British Empire (see Notes 1,2) | 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 Empire (see Note 2) | M.B.E. |
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 Member (before 1 January 2007, Member (M.St.J) was designated Serving Brother (S.B.St.J) or Serving Sister (S.S.St.J.)) | M.St.J. |
| VI Esquire (appointments no longer made) | Esq.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. |
| King’s Service Medal (and the Queen's Service Medal) | K.S.M. and Q.S.M. |
| New Zealand Antarctic Medal | N.Z.A.M. |
| New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration | D.S.D. |
| British Empire Medal (see Note 2) | B.E.M. |
| Queen’s Police Medal, for Distinguished Service | Q.P.M. |
| Queen’s Fire Service Medal, for Distinguished Service | Q.F.S.M. |
Campaign medals(including war, operational and peacekeeping) | |
| (Worn in order of date of participation in campaign or operation for which awarded - See Note 3) | |
New Zealand Special Service Medal | |
| (Worn in order of date of award - See Note 3 (vi)) | |
Polar Medal | |
| (Worn 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 | |
| Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Medal, 2012 | |
| Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Medal, 2022 | |
| King Charles III's Coronation Medal, 2023 | |
| New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal | |
| New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993 | |
Merit, efficiency and service awards | |
| New Zealand Meritorious Service Medal (formerly the Medal for Meritorious Service awarded only to members of the New Zealand Army) | |
| New Zealand Defence Meritorious Service Medal | |
| New Zealand Police Meritorious Service Medal | |
| New Zealand Public Service Medal | |
| 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 | |
| New Zealand Efficiency Decoration (formerly styled Efficiency Decoration) | E.D. |
| New Zealand Efficiency Medal (formerly styled 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 | |
| New Zealand Air Efficiency Award (formerly styled 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 | |
| New Zealand Defence Service Medal | |
Commonwealth Independence Medals | |
| Applies only to those 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 (see Note 5). 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. Orders are worn first (in order of date of award), then Decorations (in order of date of award), then Medals (in order of date of award). | |
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. These awards may only be worn when the Sovereign’s permission has been given (see Note 5). Orders are worn first (in order of date of award), then Decorations (in order of date of award), then Medals (in order of date of award). | |
Foreign Awards | |
| These awards may only be worn when the Sovereign’s permission has been given (see Note 5). Orders are worn first (in order of date of award), then Decorations (in order of date of award), then Medals (in order of date of award). |
NOTES
1. Orders of Chivalry and other orders: ribbons
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 in the Order of the British Empire and British Empire Medal
2.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.
2.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:
3.i
Campaign Stars and Medals awarded for service in the Second World War (1939-1945) should be worn in the following order: 1939-1945 Star, Atlantic Star, Air Crew Europe Star, Arctic Star, Africa Star, Pacific Star, Burma Star, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-1945, New Zealand War Service Medal 1939-1945.
3.ii
The New Zealand Operational Service Medal (instituted in 2002 for operational service completed from 3 September 1945) is worn after the New Zealand War Service Medal 1939-1945 and before any specific campaign medal.
3.iii
The New Zealand Service Medal 1946-1949 (instituted in 1995).
3.iv
The Korea Medal (1950-53) and the United Nations Service Medal for Korea are worn together where both are held.
3.v
The order of wearing the following will vary, and will depend upon, the dates of participation in the relevant campaigns or operations:
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 in the Order of the British Empire and British Empire Medal
2.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.
2.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:
3.i
Campaign Stars and Medals awarded for service in the Second World War (1939-1945) should be worn in the following order: 1939-1945 Star, Atlantic Star, Air Crew Europe Star, Arctic Star, Africa Star, Pacific Star, Burma Star, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-1945, New Zealand War Service Medal 1939-1945.
3.ii
The New Zealand Operational Service Medal (instituted in 2002 for operational service completed from 3 September 1945) is worn after the New Zealand War Service Medal 1939-1945 and before any specific campaign medal.
3.iii
The New Zealand Service Medal 1946-1949 (instituted in 1995).
3.iv
The Korea Medal (1950-53) and the United Nations Service Medal for Korea are worn together where both are held.
3.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 rules governing foreign medals. See Note 5.]
e The Rhodesia Medal (1980).
f 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).
g The East Timor Medal (instituted in 2001).
h The New Zealand General Service Medal (instituted in 2002, with a different ribbon for each operation).
i 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.
3.vi
The New Zealand Special Service Medal (instituted in 2002, with a different ribbon for each specific service) is worn in order of date of award after war, operational and peacekeeping medals.
3.vii
The Australian International Force East Timor (INTERFET) Medal is worn as a Commonwealth medal.
3.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
4.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.)
4.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.)
4.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.
4.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.)
4.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
5.i
Awards by Commonwealth countries of which the Sovereign is Head of State may only be accepted and worn when approval has been granted by the Prime Minister acting under authority delegated by The Sovereign.
5.ii
Awards by Commonwealth countries of which the Sovereign is not Head of State and Foreign countries may only be accepted and worn when approval has been granted by the Governor-General acting under authority delegated by The Sovereign.
5.iii
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.
5.iv
This Note is subject to, and should be read in conjunction with, the “Rules relating to the acceptance and wear of Commonwealth, foreign and international Honours by New Zealand citizens”, dated 23 July 2007 (and subsequent amendments).
6. New Zealand Memorial Crosses
6.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 died 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.
6.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.
6.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
7.i
The lapel badges of the New Zealand Orders, New Zealand Gallantry and Bravery Awards, the New Zealand Antarctic Medal and the New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration are worn at the discretion of the holder on the left lapel or left side of the dress, on those occasions the full-size or miniature insignia are not worn. Lapel badges are not worn when in uniform. Usually only one lapel badge or rosette is worn at a time.
7.ii
The Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor rosette is worn by Knights Bachelor in the button-hole on the left lapel.
7.iii
The rosette or lapel button of the Order of St John is worn in the same manner as prescribed in paragraph 7i, above.
7.iv
The rosettes of the Order of the Bath, the Order of St Michael and St George, the Royal Victorian Order and Royal Victorian Medals, and the Order of the British Empire and British Empire Medal, are worn in the same manner as prescribed in paragraph 7i, above.
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 Unit.
10. Wearing of Decorations and Medals by Next of Kin or Family Members
10.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.
10.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 persons. 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, sash badges, or breast stars.
11. Awards Issued by Non-Governmental and Private Organisations, and Commercially Produced Medals
11.i
Awards issued by non-governmental 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.
11.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 Honours Unit, Cabinet Office, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Parliament Buildings, Wellington. The current, approved version of this “Order of Wear” is posted on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet's website.
13. Cancellation of previous “Order of Wear”
The “Order of Wear” dated 4 September 2020 is hereby cancelled.