The New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration (DSD) was instituted by Royal Warrant as a New Zealand Royal Honour in 2007 to recognise distinguished military service, by regular, territorial and reserve members of the New Zealand Defence Force. Until 1995, this type of service was recognised by awards of the British Empire Medal (Military Division). After the change to a totally New Zealand Honours system in 1996, these Commonwealth awards were not available to be awarded to New Zealand military personnel.
Eligibility All members of the New Zealand Defence Force, or uniformed members of allied forces operating with or alongside units of the New Zealand military are eligible for the decoration. It may be awarded for the outstanding performance of military duties in either warlike or non-warlike operations, or for individual efforts toward peacetime and humanitarian service which brings great credit to the New Zealand Defence Force. The acts must contribute significantly, through exceptional devotion to duty, dedication, judgement or application of skills to the conduct of an operational deployment, the conduct of military training or a military operation or operations, or the management and implementation of a project or activity with significant implications for the current or future capability of the New Zealand Defence Force. The Distinguished Service Decoration also may be awarded for a single accomplishment or instance of extraordinary performance of duty, or can be awarded for cumulative efforts over a long period of time.
Appearance The decoration, made of sterling silver, is a representation of a kotiate, a Māori eight bladed war club. In the centre of the kotiate is St Edward’s Crown. The blades alternate between frosted and polished silver. The reverse is inscribed “FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE” and its Māori language equivalent “MO NGA TE MAHI KAHURANGI”. The ribbon is dark blue with a center stripe of red, two narrow yellow stripes separate the red stripe from the blue.
Recipients NameRankUnitHonours listJonathon Aaron Ishmael Fatu PrivateRoyal New Zealand Infantry Regiment2007 Queen's Birthday HonoursShane Andrew MeighanSquadron LeaderRoyal New Zealand Air ForceRobert James Mills Lieutenant CommanderRoyal New Zealand Naval Volunteer ReserveBarry John NelsonWing CommanderRoyal New Zealand Air ForceBrett James RankinLieutenant ColonelRoyal Regiment of New Zealand ArtilleryJames Patrick RankinSquadron LeaderRoyal New Zealand Air ForceDarren Kavan Te WhataCorporalRoyal New Zealand Army Logistic RegimentWilliam Peter WattersCorporalRoyal New Zealand Infantry RegimentMichael Edward YardleyGroup CaptainRoyal New Zealand Air ForceDavid Anthony Bamfield Air Vice-MarshalRoyal New Zealand Air Force2008 New Year HonoursBrenton Lee BeachStaff SergeantRoyal New Zealand Infantry RegimentDavid Murray ChisnallWarrant OfficerRoyal New Zealand NavyRichard Lance CookCommanderRoyal New Zealand NavyJohn William LovattWing CommanderRoyal New Zealand Air ForceMark John Richard MortiboyWarrant Officer Class OneRoyal New Zealand Army Logistic RegimentSean Anthony NgataiCorporalRoyal New Zealand Army Logistic RegimentTimothy Andrew O'DonnellLieutenantRoyal New Zealand Infantry RegimentTerence Albert Joseph O'NeillMajorRoyal New Zealand Infantry RegimentKevin Andrew YorwarthWarrant Officer Class OneRoyal New Zealand Army Logistic RegimentGregory John BurroughsSquadron LeaderRoyal New Zealand Air Force2008 Queen's Birthday HonoursHelen Joy CooperLieutenant ColonelRoyal New Zealand Army Logistic RegimentMichael Peter De BoerCaptainCorps of Royal New Zealand EngineersTimothy Richard EvansSquadron LeaderRoyal New Zealand Air ForceTimothy HopkinsSquadron LeaderRoyal New Zealand Air ForceRobert David Joseph MartellettiWarrant OfficerRoyal New Zealand Air ForceWayne Robert MorrisWarrant OfficerRoyal New Zealand NavyChristopher Gerard MortiboyMajorRoyal New Zealand Corps of SignalsPhillip John ManningGunnerRoyal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery2009 New Year HonoursNeil Andrew RobertsWarrant OfficerRoyal New Zealand NavyGeorge Sean Trengrove ColonelColonel's List, New Zealand Army (Territorial Force)John Francis WeelWarrant Officer Class TwoRoyal Regiment of New Zealand ArtilleryThomas Michael Allen Warrant OfficerRoyal New Zealand Navy2009 Queen's Birthday HonoursRobert William GilliesMajorRoyal New Zealand Army Logistic RegimentShirley Anne PattonActing Warrant Officer Master-at-armsRoyal New Zealand NavySimon John Caulfield StrombomMajorRoyal New Zealand Armoured Corps (Territorial Force)Dougal Andrew BarkerMajorRoyal New Zealand Armoured Corps2010 New Year HonoursMark Stanley BruntonWing CommanderRoyal New Zealand Air ForceBryce Cameron GurneyMajorCorps of Royal New Zealand EngineersPeter Wayne JacobsMajorRoyal New Zealand Army Medical CorpsMary Elizabeth CoxGroup CaptainRoyal New Zealand Air Force2010 Queen's Birthday HonoursJason Stewart HaggittCommanderRoyal New Zealand NavyBlake William Herbert LieutenantRoyal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (Territorial Force)Michael William KobersteinLieutenantNew Zealand Intelligence CorpsSimon Montague MarriottMajorRoyal New Zealand Armoured Corps (Territorial Force)Andrew Gavin McMillanCommanderRoyal New Zealand NavyMatthew William PearceCorporalRoyal New Zealand Infantry RegimentBrendon PettWing CommanderRoyal New Zealand Air ForceBrendan Patrick WoodMajorRoyal New Zealand Army Medical CorpsSuzanne Lynn KoiaCaptainRoyal New Zealand Nursing Corps2011 New Year HonoursWiremu Beamish Simon MoffittWarrant Officer Class TwoDonald NapierWarrant OfficerRoyal New Zealand Air ForceChristopher John Parsons Lieutenant ColonelNew Zealand Special Air Service2011 Queen's Birthday HonoursIan Richard PonseWarrant Officer Class OneRoyal New Zealand Army Logistic RegimentDarren SmithActing Warrant OfficerRoyal New Zealand Air ForceServiceman AUndisclosedNew Zealand Special Air Service2011 New Zealand gallantry awardsKeith Murray BartlettSquadron LeaderRoyal New Zealand Air Force2012 New Year HonoursJohn Raymond BoswellColonelNew Zealand ArmySimon Campbell GriffithsLieutenant CommanderRoyal New Zealand NavyRussell Mostyn KennedySquadron LeaderRoyal New Zealand Air ForceDavid Bruce AckroydMajor2012 Queen's Birthday and Diamond Jubilee HonoursLayamon John BakewellLieutenantAaron Douglas BentonSquadron LeaderRoyal New Zealand Air ForceHugh Richard McAslanLieutenant ColonelChristopher James WilsonWarrant Officer Class OneAnatoliy Valerievich DerepaLance Corporal2013 New Year HonoursAthol James ForrestGroup CaptainRoyal New Zealand Air ForceArthur Jordan GaleLieutenantShane RuaneMajorBrent Lockwood WellingtonLieutenant ColonelJames Ernist HarperWarrant Officer2013 Queen's Birthday HonoursRobin Michael HoultLieutenant ColonelStefan John MichieLieutenant ColonelLindsay NorrissSergeantBrent John QuinMajorScott Matthew TreleavenPetty officerRoyal New Zealand NavyGraeme Alexander BremnerWarrant Officer Class One2014 New Year HonoursPaul Allister MummWarrant Officer Class OneEwen VannerCorporalRichard Clive HenstockWarrant Officer2014 Queen's Birthday HonoursRichard John MacGregor Weston Lieutenant ColonelDominic Gareth Crosby WylieCaptainDavid Tale HamillWarrant Officer2015 New Year HonoursAndrew Ross McKinlayCaptainRoyal Regiment of New Zealand ArtilleryBUndisclosedMichael NocheteMajorMurray John ThomsonFlight SergeantRoyal New Zealand Air ForceDaniel Alexander EdgintonCaptain2015 Queen's Birthday HonoursGUndisclosedRobert Victor Keith McGeeStaff SergeantSean Denis BoltonMajorSimon Andrew WasleyLieutenantLouisa Ann GrittCommanderRoyal New Zealand Navy2016 New Year HonoursAnthony NickelChief Petty OfficerRoyal New Zealand NavyAndrew John ScottWing CommanderRoyal New Zealand Air ForceCUndisclosed2016 Queen's Birthday HonoursAnthony Clinton ChildsLieutenant ColonelJUndisclosedGraham Ross HickmanMajor2017 New Year HonoursTina Kathleen GrantStaff Sergeant2017 Queen's Birthday HonoursAnthony Bryan HowieBrigadierNicholas Michael PedleySquadron LeaderRoyal New Zealand Air ForceCharmaine Maurita TateMajorAndrew James Anthony ThorntonMajorRhys Lloyd EvansSquadron LeaderRoyal New Zealand Air Force2018 New Year HonoursGabrielle Louise Gofton CaptainCorps of Royal New Zealand Engineers2018 Queen's Birthday HonoursJan Joseph Tupuola PetersonLieutenant CommanderRoyal New Zealand Navy2019 New Year HonoursRuth Leonie PutzeColonelSUndisclosedDaniel Lawrence Broughton Civilian2019 Queen's Birthday HonoursPeter Rodd Hurly CivilianRichard Alan WalkerCaptainRoyal New Zealand NavyMichael James Cannon Group CaptainRoyal New Zealand Air Force2020 New Year HonoursMichael John ShaplandBrigadier2020 Queen's Birthday HonoursDUndisclosed2021 New Year HonoursMatthew Gordon CareyCaptain2021 Queen's Birthday HonoursAdam John Modd Lieutenant ColonelNew Zealand ArmyAnthony Dean BlythenLieutenant ColonelNew Zealand Army2022 New Year HonoursRichard Francis DeihlWing CommanderRoyal New Zealand Air ForceBrendon John ClarkCaptainRoyal New Zealand Navy2023 New Year HonoursLUndisclosedHayden Peter SmithSergeantRoyal New Zealand Air ForceGlenn GowthorpeGroup CaptainRoyal New Zealand Air Force2023 King's Birthday and Coronation HonoursGeorge Samuel McInnesSquadron LeaderRoyal New Zealand Air ForceVanessa Maria RopitiniLieutenant ColonelNew Zealand ArmyLouis James Munden-HooperLieutenant Commander2024 New Year HonoursMakoare Kohupara Te Kani Lieutenant CommanderMark Alan WhitesideWing Commander2024 King's Birthday HonoursPaul Leslie StockleySquadron Leader2025 New Year HonoursAndrew Gilchrist BrownCommodore2026 New Year HonoursRobert James AllenWarrant Officer Class Two2026 King's Birthday Honours
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