NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Defence Minister supports tougher punishments for medal cheats

David Fisher
By David Fisher
Senior writer·NZ Herald·
24 May, 2017 09:17 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Robert Clark of Kaukapakapa who falsely claimed to have served with NZSAS. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Robert Clark of Kaukapakapa who falsely claimed to have served with NZSAS. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Those who dare wear medals they haven't earned face higher punishments as moves grow to modernise the law which targets military fakes.

Defence Minister Mark Mitchell has backed increasing the level of punishment faced by those convicted of wearing medals they claimed

It makes Mitchell the third defence minister to offer backing to a private members bill put forward by Southland MP Todd Barclay.

The current law governing medals hasn't been updated in more than 30 years and puts the punishment level at $500.

Barclay's bill aims to boost the fine to $5000 and introduce a prison sentence of up to six months.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The focus on the law follows two cases exposed through the Herald on former servicemen wearing medals which misrepresented their careers.

Rob Clark of Kaukapakapa presented himself at an RSA service as a former NZSAS trooper, replete with the distinctive winged dagger beret and a citation for bravery from US President George W Bush.

The following week, former local RSA president Bill Kerr of Mangawhai was convicted under the medals' law and fined $250 for presenting himself as a Vietnam veteran having never served there.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
 Bill Kerr, former president of the Hakaru RSA, who was convicted of wearing war medals he didn't earn. Photo / Supplied
Bill Kerr, former president of the Hakaru RSA, who was convicted of wearing war medals he didn't earn. Photo / Supplied

Both cases were literally close to home for Mitchell, the current electorate MP for Rodney, north of Auckland.

Mitchell said he had sought advice from the NZ Defence Force and been told it was rare for people to present themselves wearing medals they had not earned.

He said NZDF was aware of five cases since 2008, and those showed there was not always malicious intent behind the misrepresentation.

"However, not all these incidents resulted in prosecution. In two cases it emerged that the individuals were in poor mental health, and the matter was dropped after Police spoke to the people concerned."

Discover more

New Zealand

Man with SAS medals didn't serve in unit

29 Apr 05:00 PM
New Zealand

SAS fake: I was 'stupid' to pose as soldier

01 May 07:28 AM
New Zealand|politics

Convicted over 'war hero' medals

05 May 05:18 AM
New Zealand|politics

Minister's 'longest day' as campaign gets dirty

13 Sep 07:26 AM

He said he had talked to Barclay about his bill and supported him pushing ahead to make it law.

"The legislation as it stands is nearly 100 years old, and we should make provision to take a much stronger stand against those who set out to disrespect the service of others and the sacrifices they have made - in some cases, giving their lives for their country."

Mitchell did not respond to questions about whether the bill would be adopted by the Government or stay as it is - waiting to be drawn from the ballot of private members bills.

Barclay, who is a National MP, said it was up to the minister as to whether his proposed legislation was adopted as a government bill.

The medals worn by former local RSA president Bill Kerr, over which he was convicted. Photo / Supplied
The medals worn by former local RSA president Bill Kerr, over which he was convicted. Photo / Supplied

However, he said he would want to see the proposal to go through a full select committee process to allow comment on the threshold. He had based the maximum $5000 punishment and six months in prison on laws overseas.

Lawyer Graeme Edgeler reviewed the law for the Herald and said it was functional.
He questioned the need for a specific law around unauthorised wearing of medals - unless the person was committing fraud.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"People shouldn't falsely claim to have served in the military, and people shouldn't falsely claim to have been decorated for valour, but the appropriate response to anyone who does it is public derision.

"If you do this, people will find out about it, and they will think less of you, and you may suffer as a result."

The law doesn't include those who wear medals earned by family members. The practice of family wearing medals of veterans who have died has grown in recent years. In these cases, the medals are to be worn on the right chest-side, showing that the wearer was not the person who won them.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

'Moving quite quickly': Fresh bout of wild weather to sweep across top of North Island

New Zealand

Missing Upper Hutt man found 'safe and well'

Wellington

Chung’s campaign group loses candidate amid email scandal


Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

'Moving quite quickly': Fresh bout of wild weather to sweep across top of North Island
New Zealand

'Moving quite quickly': Fresh bout of wild weather to sweep across top of North Island

Heavy rain watches have been issued for Northland and Auckland from early tomorrow.

16 Jul 09:13 AM
Missing Upper Hutt man found 'safe and well'
New Zealand

Missing Upper Hutt man found 'safe and well'

16 Jul 08:37 AM
Chung’s campaign group loses candidate amid email scandal
Wellington

Chung’s campaign group loses candidate amid email scandal

16 Jul 08:10 AM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP