Up to 800 New Zealand navy veterans will now qualify for a medal recognising their service during the 1960s confrontation with Indonesia.
Defence Minister and Minister of Veterans Affairs Mark Burton said service on HMNZ ships Royalist and Otago, in 1965 and 1966 will now qualify for the General Service Medal with the clasp 'Malaya Peninsula'.
"This will rectify a long-standing grievance of New Zealand veterans," Mr Burton said.
There had been some inconsistencies in the past, he said, sometimes with two ships in the same area and only those on one ship qualifying.
Mr Burton said the government had made significant progress on veterans' medal grievances over the last two years.
"I hope to make further announcements shortly, as we continue to resolve long-standing grievances by providing veterans with tangible recognition of their service to New Zealand."
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