▁Zealand ▁Army ▁were ▁el ig ible ▁for ▁award . ▁In ▁ 1 9 8 5 , ▁a ▁Royal ▁W arr ant ▁established ▁the ▁current ▁criteria ▁for ▁the ▁medal ▁making ▁all ▁members ▁of ▁the ▁Army , ▁Navy , ▁and ▁Air ▁Force ▁el ig ible ▁for ▁the ▁award . ▁ ▁M embers ▁of ▁the ▁defence ▁forces ▁above ▁the ▁rank ▁of ▁ser ge ant , ▁who ▁have ▁at ▁least ▁ 2 1 ▁years ▁of ▁service , ▁and ▁hold ▁their ▁service ' s ▁Long ▁Service ▁and ▁Good ▁Con duct ▁Medal ▁are ▁el ig ible ▁for ▁the ▁medal . ▁The ▁New ▁Zealand ▁Mer itor ious ▁Service ▁Medal ▁is ▁to ▁be ▁replaced ▁by ▁the ▁New ▁Zealand ▁Def ence ▁Mer itor ious ▁Service ▁Medal , ▁though ▁hold ers ▁of ▁the ▁su pers eded ▁medal ▁are ▁still ▁entitled ▁to ▁continue ▁we aring ▁it . ▁ ▁App earance ▁ ▁The ▁medal ▁is ▁silver ▁and ▁circular ▁in ▁shape . ▁ ▁The ▁ob verse ▁be ars ▁the ▁eff ig y ▁of ▁the ▁S over eign ▁of ▁New ▁Zealand , ▁surrounded ▁by ▁the ▁ins cription ▁E LI Z AB ET H ▁II ▁DE I ▁GR AT IA ▁RE G IN A ▁F ID . ▁DE F . ▁The ▁reverse ▁be ars ▁the ▁ins cription ▁For ▁Mer itor ious ▁Service ▁surrounded ▁by ▁a ▁la ure l ▁w re ath , ▁sur mount ed ▁by ▁a ▁royal ▁crown . ▁ ▁A bove ▁the ▁crown ▁is ▁the ▁ins cription ▁New ▁Zealand . ▁ ▁The ▁medal ▁is ▁susp ended ▁by ▁a ▁rib bon , ▁ 3 2   mm