Mark’s medals

The Herald reports:

New defence minister Ron Mark has been wearing military medals in a way which puts his foreign service above that which he performed for New Zealand.

The way Mark has his medals arrayed across his chest is in breach of NZ Defence Force protocols and not permitted for soldiers over whom he holds sway.

And it has led to questions about whether he is even entitled to wear the four medals awarded while in the service of the Sultan of Oman in the Middle East.

Mark would not answer those questions yesterday, but provided a statement in which he said: “I have the greatest respect for military service, and the way in which it is recognised. I am proud of the people I served alongside in both the New Zealand and Omani Defence Forces. 

“I have sought advice from the Honours Unit on the wearing of the medals I was awarded, and will take that advice when it’s received.”

It is an embarrassment for Mark, having worn his medals in front of senior officers who knew he was breaching the standards expected of all New Zealand military personnel.

Medal protocol is very important to Defence Force members and veterans, and the Minister of Defence has to be meticulously correct with what he wears.

There is no question about whether Ron Mark has earnt the medals he wears. It is about whether his wearing of the Oman medals is in line with the rules for New Zealand.

If Mark did have permission – which medals’ experts believe is unlikely – he has been caught out by the way he wore them.

The rules around wearing medals dictate that those earned in the service of New Zealand must be worn first.

Mark wears his medals from service in Oman first, giving them a pre-eminent position over his New Zealand medals.

Not a good look for the Minister of Defence.

NZ Medals Ltd owner Aubrey Bairstow – an expert in constructing medal boards – said: “His Oman medals must be after his New Zealand medals.”

Bairstow constantly deals with military veterans and said many were upset by the way the medals had been displayed.

I’ve had several contact me on this issue also.

“They are saying this guy values a foreign country over our own and he’s the Minister of Defence.

“It’s also ironic he’s party is called New Zealand First but he seems to put New Zealand after Oman. This is one thing where he didn’t put New Zealand first and given his capacity as Minister of Defence, you would expect him to.

New Zealand second!