New Zealand Special Service Medal

New Zealand Special Service Medal: This medal was instituted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2002 to recognise personnel who undertook special operations which are not normally recognised by a Campaign medal. The Royal Warrant allows for a number of variants of the award. The NZSSM (Nuclear Testing) recognises the service of those personnel who were part of an official New Zealand Government presence at an atmospheric nuclear test between 1956 and 1973. There are no clasps or bars for this medal. The riband features a central orange stripe flanked on both sides by crimson, red and white with a thin black edge. There are two other ribands for the medal, The New Zealand Special Service Medal (Asian Tsunami) is red, white, blue, red, green, yellow, green, red, blue, white red. The New Zealand Special Service Medal (Erebus) is blue, teal, white, black, white, teal, blue.