New Zealand Antarctic Medal
The New Zealand Antarctic Medal was created 1 September 2006, as a New Zealand Royal Honour to replace the British Polar Medal.
History
The Polar Medal was instituted in 1904 and awarded to those who had made notable contributions to the exploration and knowledge of Polar Regions and who, in doing so, had undergone the hazards and rigors imposed by the Polar environment to life and movement, whether by land, sea or air.In 1995, the Prime Minister’s Honours Advisory Committee recommended that the Polar Medal should be created under a New Zealand Royal Warrant. It also recommended that it should be renamed as “The Antarctic Medal” to reflect the fact that it is in relation to Antarctica that New Zealand’s endeavors and achievements have been made. The New Zealand Antarctic Medal was formally instituted by The Queen on 1 September 2006.
Eligibility
The New Zealand Antarctic Medal may be awarded to those New Zealanders and other persons who either individually or as members of a New Zealand mission in the Antarctic region have made an outstanding contribution to exploration, scientific research, conservation, environmental protection, or knowledge of the Antarctic region; or in support of New Zealand’s objectives or operations, or both, in the Antarctic region. The Medal will not be awarded for acts of bravery, for short-term acts of extreme endurance, for long service or for service in Antarctica generally.Recipients
As of 5 May 2019, 14 awards and one honorary award have been issued. All honorees are entitled to the Postnominal Letters NZAM.| Name | Date awarded |
| John Dudley Bradshaw, NZAM | 30 December 2006 |
| Dr Clive Howard-Williams, NZAM | 30 December 2006 |
| Dr Karl Erb, NZAM | 30 December 2006 |
| Frederick John Davey, NZAM | 4 June 2007 |
| Dr Timothy George Haskell, NZAM | 31 December 2007 |
| Peter John Barrett, NZAM | 31 December 2009 |
| Dr David Lawrence Harrowfield, NZAM | 31 December 2009 |
| Timothy Raymond Naish, NZAM | 31 December 2009 |
| Alexander Richard Pyne, NZAM | 31 December 2009 |
| Thomas George Alan Green, NZAM | 3 June 2013 |
| Baden Nolan Norris, QSO, NZAM | 3 June 2013 |
| Lewis Vernon Sanson, NZAM | 31 December 2014 |
| Randal Murray Heke, NZAM | 5 June 2017 |
| Patricia Jean Langhorne, NZAM | 31 December 2018 |
| Andrew Leachman, NZAM | 31 December 2018 |