New Zealand Bravery Medal

The New Zealand Bravery Medal (NZBM) is the fourth-level civil decoration of New Zealand.

New Zealand Bravery Medal
Obverse and reverse of the medal.
Type	Civil decoration
Awarded for	"acts of bravery"
Description	Bronze disk, 38 mm diameter
Presented by	New Zealand
Eligibility	Those performing acts of bravery in, or meriting recognition by, New Zealand
Status	Currently awarded
Established	20 September 1999
First awarded	23 October 1999[1]
Last awarded	26 October 2022[1]
Total recipients	121[1]
Ribbon: 32 mm, nine equal and alternating stripes of bright blue and crimson
Precedence
Next (higher)	New Zealand Gallantry Medal[2]
Next (lower)	Royal Victorian Medal[2]

It was instituted by Royal Warrant on 20 September 1999^[3] as part of the move to replace British bravery awards with an indigenous New Zealand Bravery system. The medal, which may be awarded posthumously, is granted in recognition of "acts of bravery". The medal is primarily a civilian award, but it is also awarded to members of the armed forces who perform acts of bravery in non-operational circumstances (given that the New Zealand gallantry awards may only be awarded "while involved in war and warlike operational service (including peacekeeping)".^[4]

Bars are awarded to the NZBM in recognition of the performance of further acts of bravery meriting the award. Recipients are entitled to the postnominal letters NZBM.^[5]

The medal replaced the award of the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct and the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air in respect of acts of bravery in, or meriting recognition by, New Zealand.

See also

• Orders, decorations, and medals of New Zealand
• New Zealand gallantry awards
• New Zealand bravery awards
• New Zealand campaign medals

Notes

1. "New Zealand bravery awards". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
2. "Order of wear: orders, decorations and medals in New Zealand". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 18 November 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
3. "Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Honours Secretariat - Medal information page". Archived from the original on 8 October 2006. Retrieved 19 October 2006.
4. New Zealand Defence Force - Text of the Royal warrant for the New Zealand Gallantry awards system - s.5
5. "NZDF Medals - The New Zealand Bravery Medal (NZBM)". medals.nzdf.mil.nz. Retrieved 22 June 2020.

References

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

External links

• New Zealand Bravery Medal, New Zealand Defence Force
• The New Zealand Bravery Awards, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet – list of awardees