Ministers announce Australian award for New Zealand firefighters and Defence Force personnel

Today, our Minister Hon. Jan Tinetti, and Minister of Defence Hon. Peeni Henare, have released a joint statement to announce that 150 Fire and Emergency New Zealand personnel and 145 members of the New Zealand Defence Force have been awarded the Australian National Emergency Medal, with Bushfires 19/20 Clasp.

They were part of a group of 384 New Zealanders who travelled to Australia’s east coast to fight the devastating bushfires over the 2019/20 summer. Included in that total are 58 firefighters from Department of Conservation and a number of forestry companies who deployed as part of our Fire and Emergency contingent. 

Members of New Zealand Defence Force, the Rural Fire Service of New Zealand, and Forest Protection Services New Zealand deployed separately and are also being acknowledged with this medal.

The National Emergency Medal is awarded by the Australian Government for sustained or significant service during national emergencies in Australia. It has a clasp for each event to indicate the specific national emergency. The medal has been awarded for five emergencies, the first being the 2009 Victorian Bushfires. This is the first time people from Fire and Emergency and these other organisations have been awarded the medal.

You can read the Ministers’ full statement on the Beehive website(external link).

Congratulations to all our Fire and Emergency recipients.