View source for King's Service Medal

{{short description|New Zealand award for public service}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2012}}
{{infobox award
| name             = King's Service Medal
| image            = [[File:KSM obverse.jpg|120px]] [[File:KSM reverse.jpg|120px]]
| caption          = The King's Service Medal (obverse and reverse) 
| presenter        = [[Monarch of New Zealand]]
| country          = New Zealand
| type             = 
| eligibility      = New Zealand citizens<br>Citizens of Commonwealth nations where The King is head of state<ref name=dpmc>{{cite web|url=http://www.dpmc.govt.nz/honours/overview/qso#The_Queens_Service_Medal |title=The Queen's Service Order |publisher=DPMC |access-date=20 January 2013}}</ref>
| awarded_for      = Voluntary service to the community<br>Services to the Crown in the public sector, in elected or appointed office
| campaign         = 
| status           = 
| description      = 
| motto            = 
| clasps           = 
| post-nominals    = KSM
| established      = 13 March 1975
| firstawarded     = 
| holder_label     = Latest award
| holder           = [[2025 Birthday Honours (New Zealand)|2 June 2025]]
| total_awarded    = 4,041<ref>{{cite book |title=Medal Yearbook 2023 |year=2022 |publisher=[[Token Publishing|Token]] |location=Honiton, Devon |isbn=978-1-908828-63-7 |page=548 }}<!--|access-date=16 December 2022 (3860), then add 49 for 2023 New Year Honours and 50 for 2023 King's Birthday Honours, 40 for 2024 New Year Honours, 42 for 2024 King's Birthday Honours--></ref>
| total_awarded_posthumously       = 
| total_recipients = 
| precedence_label =
| individual       = 
| higher           = [[Royal Victorian Medal]]<ref name=precedence>{{cite web|url=http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/info/orderofwear.html#b8 |title=NZDF Medals – Order of Wear |publisher=Medals.nzdf.mil.nz |access-date=4 June 2012}}</ref>
| same             = 
| lower            = [[New Zealand Antarctic Medal]]<ref name=precedence/>
| related          = [[King's Service Order]]
| image2           = Ribbon bar of the Queen's Service Medal.svg
| image2_size      = 100px
| caption2         = Ribbon of the King's Service Medal
}}

The '''King's Service Medal''' (created as the '''Queen's Service Medal''' in 1975 and renamed in 2024) is a medal awarded by the government of [[New Zealand]] to recognise and reward volunteer service to the community and also public service in elected or appointed public office. It was established in 1975 and is related to the [[Queen's Service Order]].<ref name=nzdfmedals>{{cite web|url=http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/category/b/b8.html |title=NZDF Medals – The Queen's Service Medal (QSM) |publisher=Medals.nzdf.mil.nz |date=2007-05-21 |access-date=4 June 2012}}</ref> The QSM replaced the [[Imperial Service Medal]] as an award of New Zealand.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Imperial Service Order and Medal|url=http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/category/i/i4.html |work=Medals awarded to New Zealand military personnel |publisher=New Zealand Defence Force|access-date=25 March 2013}}</ref>

On 3 May 2024, the Queen's Service Medal was renamed to the King's Service Medal by Royal Warrant. Recipients of the Queen's Service Medal from 1975 until May 2024 will continue to use the 'QSM' postnominal with recipients of the King's Service Medal from June 2024 using the postnominal 'KSM'.<ref>{{cite web |title=New Zealand Royal Honours FAQs |url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/our-programmes/new-zealand-royal-honours/new-zealand-royal-honours-faqs#kso |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=27 May 2024}}</ref>

==Appearance==

===1975–2007===

[[File:Queen's Service Medal.jpg|thumb|left|150px|First version of the Queen's Service Medal in ribbon configuration]]

The original medal was made of sterling silver, {{convert|36|mm}} in diameter. The [[obverse and reverse|obverse]] bears the same effigy of [[Elizabeth II|The Queen]] as the badge of the Queen's Service Order. Surrounding the effigy are the Royal styles and titles "ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F.D.". The reverse depicts the [[New Zealand Coat of Arms]] surrounded by the inscription "The Queen's Service Medal" and the name of the sub-division either "for Community Service" or "for Public Services". The initials and name of the recipient is engraved on the rim of the Medal. The medals were made by the [[Royal Mint]].<ref name=dpmc/>

===2007–2023===

[[File:QSM-FS-M-WB-01-clearcut-composite-v3.jpg|thumb|The Queen's Service Medal (pre 2024) (obverse and reverse)]]

The medal is also made of sterling silver, and is 36&nbsp;mm in diameter. The obverse bears the [[Ian Rank-Broadley]] designed effigy of The Queen. The effigy is surrounded by the Royal styles and titles "ELIZABETH II QUEEN OF NEW ZEALAND". The reverse bears the New Zealand Coat of Arms surrounded by the inscription "The Queen's Service Medal" above and "for service – MO NGA MAHI NUI" below. The new Badge and Medal are made by [[Thomas Fattorini Ltd|Thomas Fattorini Limited]], of Birmingham, United Kingdom.<ref name=dpmc/>

===Since 2024===

The obverse of the King's Service Medal depicts [[King Charles III]]'s portrait and his title 'CHARLES III KING OF NEW ZEALAND'.

The reverse of the King's Service Medal is the same as the Q.S.M., but references to 'Queen's' has been replaced with 'King's'.

===Ribbon===

Both versions of the medal are suspended from a ribbon 36&nbsp;mm wide. The edges are a narrow red ochre (kokowhai) stripe. The centre has alternating stripes of red ochre, white and black in a descending step pattern from left to right. The design is inspired by the [[Māori culture|Māori]] poutama pattern used in [[tukutuku]] wall panels. It is usually interpreted as the "stairway to heaven", but in this case it refers to "steps of service".<ref name=nzdfmedals/>

==See also==

* [[British and Commonwealth orders and decorations]]
* [[New Zealand Honours System]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/1975/0200/latest/whole.html Statutes of the King's Service Order]
{{Orders, decorations, and medals of New Zealand}}

[[Category:Civil awards and decorations of New Zealand]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Queen's Service Medal|*]]
[[Category:Recipients of the King's Service Medal|*]]
[[Category:Volunteering awards]]
[[Category:1975 establishments in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Awards established in 1975]]