The New Zealand Army Museum serves a national memorial to New Zealand’s military history and personnel, allowing the families, descendants and the New Zealand public the opportunity to acknowledge and honour the sacrifices and acts of bravery of the extraordinary service men and women who have served their country.
The National Army Museum provides a medal repository service for all medals awarded to service men and women within the New Zealand military as well as some overseas military memorabilia. The museum’s primary focus is medals, honours and awards associated with the New Zealand Army, but it also includes medals from within the various othermilitary divisions.
On display within the museum is a collection of approximately 10,000 individual medals, many donated or on loan from the descendants of the original recipients. As well as well-recognised medals like The Victoria Cross, The Albert Medal and the more recent George Cross, the museum is home to specimen, foreign and miniature medals and assorted military badges and awards.
The medals held are categorised into various temporary and permanent displays including but not limited to:
- NZ Gallantry and Bravery Awards
- Donated Medals
- British Campaign and General Service Medals
- Campaign and General Service Medals awarded to New Zealanders
- United Nations and Commemorative Medals
- Foreign Medals (a selection only)
- Meritorious Service, Long Service, Efficient Service Decorations and Medals Orders, Decorations and Medals
No longer are these medals of NZ held deep in storage, the new and improved vault-like medal repository enables visitors and families of soldiers to view the medals via interactive touch screen database services. Visitors are provided with details of the exact location of any selected medal or medal group within the museum and the associated biographies and stories of the individual soldiers concerned. By learning, engaging and identifying with the past and present medals on display the public of today are able to personally honour and remember the brave soldiers who earned them.
For more information about medals and medal ribbons, wearing medals, medal posters and the common medals awarded to New Zealand military personnel since the New Zealand Wars of the 1840s and 1860s please visit the New Zealand Defence Force Medals page.
As a Registered Charitable Trust the National Army Museum acknowledges its responsibilities as holders, trustees and guardians of these unique medal collections on behalf of the people of New Zealand and depends on the generosity of the public to continue to preserve and develop this national service. For information about medal donations or to show your support for the New Zealand National Army Museum see here.