The King's Service Order
The King's Service Order
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The King's Service Order
2024/51

The King’s Service Order
Charles R
Royal Warrant
Charles the Third, by the Grace of God King of New Zealand and His Other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, to all to whom these Presents shall come,
Greeting!
Whereas Our Predecessor, Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, by a Warrant under the Seal of New Zealand dated 13 March 1975 (SR 1975/200) was pleased to institute and create a new Civil Order of Distinction, styled and designated “The Queen’s Service Order”
and containing 2 sub-divisions, the first “For Community Service”
and the second “For Public Services”
, and did make, ordain, and establish Statutes for the governance of that Order, reserving to Herself, Her Heirs and Successors, full power of annulling, altering, abrogating, augmenting, interpreting, or dispensing with those Statutes or any part thereof, by a notification under the Sign Manual of the Sovereign of the Order:
And whereas by a Warrant under the Seal of New Zealand dated 15 October 1981 (SR 1981/288), Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second was pleased to make certain alterations to the Statutes under the Warrant of 13 March 1975:
And whereas by a Warrant under the Seal of New Zealand dated 9 May 2007 (SR 2007/115) Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second discontinued the 2 sub-divisions within the Order and did annul the Statutes under the Warrant of 13 March 1975 and in substitution did make, ordain, and establish new Statutes:
And whereas We are desirous that the style and designation of the Order should be altered to “The King’s Service Order”
:
We, therefore, in pursuance and exercise of the powers vested in Us, do hereby—
First, alter the Warrant of 13 March 1975 by renaming it “Statutes of the King’s Service Order”
; and
Second, annul the Statutes under the Warrant of 9 May 2007 and in substitution thereof, make, ordain, and establish the following Statutes.
1 Commencement
This Warrant comes into force on the day after the date of its notification in the Gazette.
2 Style and designation
The Order shall be styled and designated “The King’s Service Order”
.
3 Membership
(1)
The Order shall consist of the Sovereign, a Principal Companion, and 1 level of membership, styled “Companions”
.
(2)
Companions shall be composed of Ordinary, Extra, Additional, and Honorary Companions.
4 Sovereign
We, Our Heirs and Successors, Kings and Queens Regnant of New Zealand, are and forever shall be Sovereigns of the Order.
5 Principal Companion
The Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief in and over Our Realm of New Zealand shall be the Principal Companion of the Order.
6 Ordinary Companions
Persons eligible to be appointed Ordinary Companions of the Order shall be citizens of New Zealand or citizens of Commonwealth nations of which We are Sovereign.
7 Extra Companions
Princes and Princesses of the Blood Royal and members of the Royal Family may be appointed to the Order as Extra Companions.
8 Additional Companions
(1)
Additional Companions of the Order may be appointed in commemoration of any important Royal, State, or national occasion.
(2)
Despite subclause (1), the Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief in and over Our Realm of New Zealand, or a former such person, or their spouses, if not already a Companion of the Order, may be appointed an Additional Companion at any time.
9 Honorary Companions
Persons who are not New Zealand citizens or citizens of Commonwealth nations of which We are Sovereign are eligible to be appointed Honorary Companions of the Order.
10 Qualifications
Persons to be admitted as Companions of the Order shall be those who have rendered either or both—
(a)
valuable voluntary service to the community:
(b)
meritorious and faithful services to the Crown or similar services within the public sector, whether in elected or appointed office.
11 Post-nominal letters: KSO
Ordinary, Extra, Additional, and Honorary Companions of the Order shall have the privilege of adding the letters “KSO”
after their names.
12 Allocations: KSO
(1)
No more than 50 Ordinary Companions may be appointed in any one year.
(2)
Extra, Additional, and Honorary Companions shall be additional to the Ordinary membership of the Order.
13 Appointments to be made by Warrant
(1)
When We, Our Heirs or Successors, shall be pleased to appoint any person to be an Ordinary, Extra, Additional, or Honorary Companion of the Order, such appointment shall be made by Warrant under our Sign Manual, sealed with the Seal of the Order and countersigned by the Principal Companion or the Secretary and Registrar acting for the Principal Companion of the Order.
(2)
Warrants of Appointments to the Order shall be engrossed in English and Māori.
14 Prime Minister to submit names for appointments
No person shall be eligible to be appointed an Ordinary, Extra, Additional, or Honorary Companion of the Order unless their name has been laid before Us, Our Heirs or Successors, by Our Prime Minister of New Zealand.
15 Cancellation of appointments
It shall be competent for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, by an Order signed by the Sovereign and sealed with the Seal of the Order, and on a recommendation by Our Prime Minister of New Zealand, to cancel and annul the appointment of any person to the Order, and thereupon the name of that person in the Register shall be erased and the badge returned to the Secretary and Registrar of the Order.
16 Restoration to Order
It shall be competent for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, on a recommendation by Our Prime Minister of New Zealand, to restore to the Order any person whose appointment may have been cancelled and annulled.
17 Appointments to be published in New Zealand Gazette
The names of those persons appointed Ordinary, Extra, Additional, and Honorary Companions of the Order shall be published in the New Zealand Gazette.
18 The King’s Service Medal
Associated with the Order there shall be a medal designated “The King’s Service Medal”
.
19 Persons eligible for award of medal
Persons eligible for the award of the medal shall be citizens of New Zealand or citizens of Commonwealth nations of which We are Sovereign.
20 Award of Honorary Medal
Persons who are not New Zealand citizens or citizens of nations of which We are Sovereign are eligible to be awarded an Honorary Medal.
21 Qualifications
The medal shall be awarded to those persons who have rendered either or both—
(a)
valuable voluntary service to the community:
(b)
meritorious and faithful services to the Crown or similar services within the public sector, whether in elected or appointed office.
22 Post-nominal letters: KSM
Recipients of The King’s Service Medal shall have the privilege of adding the letters “KSM”
after their names.
23 Allocations: KSM
There shall be no limit on the number of medals that may be awarded in any one year.
24 Certificates
(1)
Each person awarded the medal shall receive a Certificate under Our Sign Manual, sealed with the Seal of the Order, and countersigned by the Principal Companion or the Secretary and Registrar acting for the Principal Companion of the Order.
(2)
Certificates shall be engrossed in English and Māori.
25 Prime Minister to submit names for medal
No person shall be eligible to receive the medal or an Honorary Medal unless their name has been laid before Us, Our Heirs or Successors, by Our Prime Minister of New Zealand.
26 Cancellation of award of medal
It shall be competent for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, by an Order signed by the Sovereign and sealed with the Seal of the Order, and on a recommendation to that effect by or through Our Prime Minister of New Zealand, to cancel and annul the award to any person of The King’s Service Medal, and thereupon the name of that person in the Register shall be erased and the medal returned to the Secretary and Registrar of the Order.
27 Restoration of cancelled medal
It shall be competent for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, on a recommendation by Our Prime Minister of New Zealand, to restore The King’s Service Medal to any person whose medal may have been cancelled and annulled.
28 Awards of medal to be published in New Zealand Gazette
The names of those persons awarded The King’s Service Medal shall be published in the New Zealand Gazette.
29 Holders of medal appointed Companion
Persons upon whom The King’s Service Medal has been conferred who subsequently are appointed a Companion of the Order may continue to wear the medal and to use the post-nominal letters “KSM”
.
30 Description of Badge of Companions
The badge to be worn by Companions of the Order shall be circular in shape, consisting of 5 large and 5 small stylised flower petals in frosted silver, superimposed upon which there shall be a silver gilt medallion bearing the effigy of the Sovereign within a circle of red enamel inscribed “For Service • Mō Ngā Mahi Nui”
and surmounted by a Royal Crown (St Edward’s Crown) in silver gilt.
31 Naming of badge
The name of the Companion shall be engraved on the reverse of the badge.
32 Method of wearing badge
Companions shall wear the badge suspended from a ribbon on the left lapel of the coat or from a ribbon tied in a bow and worn on the left shoulder.
33 Description of medal
The King’s Service Medal shall be of silver and circular in shape, bearing on the obverse the effigy of the Sovereign and on the reverse a representation of the Armorial Bearings of Our Realm of New Zealand surrounded by the inscription “The King’s Service Medal – For Service • Mō Ngā Mahi Nui”
.
34 Naming of medal
The name of the recipient shall be engraved or stamped on the rim of the medal.
35 Method of wearing medal
The medal shall be worn suspended from the ribbon on the left lapel of the coat or from a ribbon tied in a bow and worn on the left shoulder.
36 Ribbon
The ribbon of the Order from which the Badges of Companions and the medals shall be suspended shall be 38 mm in width, having narrow red ochre (kōkōwai) edges with, in the centre, alternating diagonal steps in red ochre (kōkōwai), white, and black, descending from left to right.
37 Miniature Badge of Companions
The miniature badge worn by the Companions of the Order shall be a reproduction of the full-size badge, save that it shall not exceed one-half of the size of the full-size badge and shall be suspended from ribbon 16 mm in width.
38 Miniature medal
The miniature medal worn by those awarded the Medal of the Order shall be a reproduction of the full-size of the King’s Service Medal, save that it shall not exceed one-half of the size of the full-size medal and shall be suspended from ribbon 16 mm in width.
39 Sealed patterns of miniatures
Sealed patterns of the miniature badges and medals shall be deposited with and kept by the Secretary and Registrar of the Order.
40 Lapel badges
Lapel badges, to be worn by Companions and holders of the medal on those occasions when it is inappropriate to wear the full-size or miniature insignia, shall not exceed 18 mm in diameter and shall consist of a red ochre disc with, in the centre,—
(a)
an outline of the badge with a silver Royal Crown (St Edward’s Crown) in the centre, for Companions:
(b)
a silver Royal Crown (St Edward’s Crown) within a silver circle, for recipients of the medal.
41 Badge of Sovereign
(1)
The Badge of the Sovereign of the Order shall be similar to that prescribed for Companions, that is to say, it shall be circular in shape, consisting of 5 large and 5 small stylised flower petals in frosted silver, superimposed upon which there shall be a silver gilt medallion bearing a representation of a mānuka flower within a circle of red enamel bearing 6 lozenges and that St Edward’s Crown shall be jewelled in coloured enamel.
(2)
The badge may be worn around the neck from the ribbon of the Order (either full-size or miniature width), or from the ribbon tied in a bow and worn on the left shoulder.
42 Principal Companion: duties
The Principal Companion shall countersign all Warrants, Certificates, and other instruments of the Order to which the Seal of the Order is affixed.
43 Principal Companion: badge
(1)
The Principal Companion may wear on appropriate occasions a distinctive Badge of Office.
(2)
The Badge of the Principal Companion of the Order shall be similar to that prescribed for Companions, that is to say, it shall be circular in shape, consisting of 5 large and 5 small stylised flower petals in frosted silver, superimposed upon which there shall be a silver-gilt medallion bearing a representation of a mānuka flower within a circle of red enamel bearing 6 lozenges and that St Edward’s Crown shall be jewelled in coloured enamel.
(3)
The badge may be worn around the neck from the ribbon of the Order (either full-size or miniature width), or from the ribbon tied in a bow and worn on the left shoulder.
44 Secretary and Registrar
(1)
There shall be a Secretary and Registrar of the Order, who shall be appointed by Us, Our Heirs and Successors, and who shall hold the said office during Our pleasure.
(2)
The Secretary and Registrar of the Order, for the time being, shall be the Clerk of Our Executive Council of New Zealand or such other person who shall be appointed by Us, Our Heirs and Successors.
45 Secretary and Registrar: duties
The Secretary and Registrar shall—
(a)
maintain a Register of all Companions appointed to the Order and all those persons awarded The King’s Service Medal; and
(b)
prepare all Warrants and Certificates, and other instruments to be passed under the Seal of the Order; and
(c)
summon all those persons to be admitted to the Order or receive the medal; and
(d)
perform such other duties as may be directed by the Sovereign or Principal Companion of the Order; and
(e)
hold in safe-custody the Seal of the Order.
46 Secretary and Registrar: badge
(1)
The badge of the Secretary and Registrar of the Order shall be similar to that prescribed for the Principal Companion, save that the silver-gilt medallion shall bear a representation of 2 crossed quills within a circle of red enamel.
(2)
The badge may be worn around the neck from the ribbon of the Order (either full-size or miniature width), or from the ribbon tied in a bow and worn on the left shoulder.
47 Return of badges of office
On the resignation, dismissal, or death of the Principal Companion or of the Secretary and Registrar of the Order, their Badge of Office shall be restored to the Sovereign of the Order and each such officer shall, upon receiving their badge, give a written undertaking that their badge will be so restored.
48 Precedence of Principal Companion and Companions
(1)
The Principal Companion of the Order shall take precedence over all Companions, and on ceasing to be Principal Companion shall take precedence among other Companions according to the date of their appointment as a Companion of the Order.
(2)
Companions of the Order “For Community Service”
or “For Public Services”
, appointed under the Warrant of 13 March 1975, shall continue to take precedence among other Companions according to the date of their appointment as a Companion of the Order.
49 Order of wear
It shall be competent for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, to determine from time to time, the precedence and the order of wear of the Badge of the Order and associated medal in relation to Our other Orders of Chivalry, orders, decorations, and medals that have been or may be conferred in Our Realm of New Zealand.
50 Investitures
(1)
It shall be competent for Our Principal Companion of the Order to perform in Our Name, and on Our behalf, the ceremony of investing those persons admitted to the Order with the badge of their dignity and those persons awarded the Medal of the Order.
(2)
It further shall be competent for Our Principal Companion of the Order—
(a)
to authorise some distinguished person to perform in Our Name, and on Our behalf, the ceremony of investing persons admitted to the Order with the badge of their dignity or those persons awarded the Medal of the Order; or
(b)
to permit the ceremony of investiture to be dispensed with.
51 Seal of Order
The Seal of the Order shall consist of a representation of the Badge of the Order with, in the centre, a disk bearing the Cypher of the Sovereign and surrounded by a representation of St Edward’s Crown, with the inscription “The Seal of The King’s Service Order, Te Waitohu o te Tohu Whakanui Ratonga a te Kīngi”
and all instruments of the Order, except this Warrant, shall be sealed by and with the same.
52 Members of The Queen’s Service Order appointed before commencement of this Warrant
(1)
Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second’s Warrant dated 13 March 1975 (SR 1975/200) shall continue to apply as if this Warrant had not been made, ordained, and established to every member of The Queen’s Service Order who was appointed before the commencement of this Warrant.
(2)
Every member of The Queen’s Service Order who was appointed before the commencement of this Warrant—
(a)
shall continue to enjoy, unaltered, membership in The Queen’s Service Order and all the prescribed rights and privileges of membership in The Queen’s Service Order; and
(b)
shall continue to have the privilege of adding the letters “QSO” after their name; and
(c)
shall not be eligible to be appointed to The King’s Service Order.
53 Recipients of The Queen’s Service Medal awarded before commencement of this Warrant
(1)
Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second’s Warrant dated 13 March 1975 (SR 1975/200) shall continue to apply as if this Warrant had not been made, ordained, and established to every recipient of The Queen’s Service Medal whose medal was awarded before the commencement of this Warrant.
(2)
Every recipient of The Queen’s Service Medal whose medal was awarded before the commencement of this Warrant—
(a)
shall continue to enjoy, unaltered, all the prescribed rights and privileges of The Queen’s Service Medal; and
(b)
shall continue to have the privilege of adding the letters “QSM” after their name; and
(c)
shall not have the privilege of being awarded The King’s Service Medal; and
(d)
shall be eligible to be appointed a Companion of The King’s Service Order after the commencement of this Warrant; and
(e)
if appointed a Companion of The King’s Service Order after the commencement of this Warrant, shall have the privilege of adding the letters “KSO”
after their name.
54 Power reserved to alter Statutes
We reserve to Ourselves, Our Heirs and Successors, full power of annulling, altering, abrogating, augmenting, interpreting, or dispensing with this Warrant or any part thereof, by a notification under the Sign Manual of the Sovereign of the Order.
Given at Our Court of Saint James’s and issued under the Seal of New Zealand, this twenty-ninth day of April 2024, in the Second Year of Our Reign.
By His Majesty’s Command,
C M Luxon,
Prime Minister of New Zealand.
Issued under the authority of the Legislation Act 2019.
Date of notification in Gazette: 2 May 2024.
This warrant is administered by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
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The King's Service Order
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