New Zealand Operational Service Medal
Obverse (top left) and reverse (top right) of the medal. Ribbon: 32 mm, black with six white stripes.
Type	Campaign medal
Awarded for	Campaign service
Description	Silver-plated base metal disk, 38 mm diameter
Presented by	New Zealand
Eligibility	New Zealand forces
Campaign(s)	All New Zealand personnel awarded a medal for operational service since 3 September 1945
Clasps	None authorised
Established	July 2002
Total	35,000[1]

The New Zealand Operational Service Medal (NZOSM) is a New Zealand campaign medal for award to New Zealanders who have served on operations since 3 September 1945. Eligibility for the NZ OSM commences the day after the final eligibility date (2 September 1945) for the 1939–45 New Zealand War Service Medal. The medal was instituted in 2002 to provide specific New Zealand recognition for operational service. It is awarded in addition to any New Zealand, Commonwealth or foreign campaign medal. It is awarded once only to an individual, regardless of how many times he or she has deployed on operations.

Personnel and veterans who have been awarded a campaign medal for operational service since 3 September 1945 qualify for the award of the NZOSM, provided that the particular campaign medal has been approved for acceptance and wear by New Zealanders. In addition, personnel who, under certain circumstances, have not completed the qualifying period for an approved campaign medal, but who have completed a specific period of service in an operational area towards such a medal (generally seven days on the posted strength of a qualifying unit), are eligible for the NZOSM.

To date, the NZOSM has been issued to over 19,000 veterans, currently serving military personnel and civilians. It is estimated that over 40,000 New Zealanders are eligible for this medal.

• None authorised.

• Mackay, J and Mussel, J (eds). Medals Yearbook – 2005, (2004), Token Publishing.

• New Zealand Defence Force – Medal information page
• New Zealand Defence Force – Text of the Royal authorisation warrant