The New Zealand War Service Medal.

     Instituted  30th September 1948 for award to New Zealand forces who had completed 28 days aggregate full time service or 6 months part time service between 3rd September 1939 and 2nd September 1945; The Royal Warrant refers:
             "The persons eligible for the medal shall be those of our faithful subjects and others, male and female, who, between the 3rd September, 1939, and the 2nd September, 1945, rendered the required service in the New Zealand Armed Forces, including the Naval Auxiliary Patrol Service, the New Zealand Territorial Force, the New Zealand National Military Reserve, the Home Guard, or the commissioned ranks of the Air Training Corps, or rendered the required service in the New Zealand Merchant Navy, or as members of the crew of an aircraft operated by a Civil Air Line registered in New Zealand.
     In the case of service in the Armed Forces an aggregate of at least twenty-eight days' full-time service must have been rendered, whether within New Zealand or abroad, or six months' part-time service. The part-time service in the Home Guard, which may be reckoned towards the period of six months, shall be restricted to service between 16th August 1940, and 1st January, 1944. The part-time service in the Naval Auxiliary Patrol Service, which may be reckoned towards the period of six months, shall be restricted to service between the 31st December, 1941, and 31st July, 1944.
     In the case of service in the New Zealand Merchant Navy an aggregate of at least twenty-eight days' service must have been rendered at sea.
    In the case of service as a member of the crew of an aircraft operated by a Civil Air Line registered in New Zealand, an aggregate of at least twenty-eight days' service, involving not less than forty-eight flying hours, must have been rendered outside New Zealand territorial waters.
    The medal shall not be awarded to any person who does not qualify by full-time or part-time service performed in the New Zealand Armed Forces or in the Merchant Navy of New Zealand, or as a member of the crew of an aircraft operated by a Civil Air Line registered in New Zealand.
     Service brought to an end by death on duty, or due to wounds or injuries sustained on duty, or honourable discharge as a direct result of injuries sustained while on duty, shall qualify for the award of the medal even though the service may not amount to twenty-eight days or six months, as the case may be.
    Full-time uniformed civilians who served as members of the New Zealand Armed Forces shall qualify in the same way as full-time members of such Forces. "
 

     Description: 36mm diameter in cupro- nickel, with a fixed suspension modelled on two fern leaves. Obverse the coinage head of King George the VI and the legend 'GEORGIVS VI D:G: BR: REX F:D: IND: IMP.' Reverse bears the inscription FOR SERVICES TO NEW ZEALAND' with a fern leaf under.
No bars were issued and the medal is unnamed.
Ribbon; watered, black with two white edge stripes.