EXECUTIVE COUNCIL CHAMBERS
6 August 2024
Chris
[FYI request #26901 email]
Ref: OIA-2023/24-0967
Tēnā koe Chris
Official Information Act request: CDF's overseas medals
Thank you for your Official Information Act (Act) request on the above topic. Questions 3 and
8 were transferred to the Cabinet Office on 14 June 2024. You requested:
“3. Has the Governor General approved him to wear those medals with his
uniform? If not, has a request been made? Can I please see the paperwork that
was done for this?
[...]
8. How long from the time that the CDF asked the GG for approval to wear to the
time approval was granted?”
We understand your request relates to the Chief of Defence Force’s (CDF) appointment as
an Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia and a Commander of the United States Legion
of Merit.
The Rules relating to the acceptance and wearing of Commonwealth, foreign and
international Honours by New Zealand citizens were approved by Queen Elizabeth II and
took effect in August 2007. The rules are available to view on the website of the Department
of the Prime Minister and Cabinet: https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/our-programmes/new-zealand-
royal-honours/new-zealand-royal-honours-system/rules-relating-to-acceptance-and-
wearing
The approvals process for honours and awards requests from Commonwealth countries such
as Australia is different to that for other non-Commonwealth countries, such as the United
States. For Commonwealth honours and awards, approval is given by the Prime Minister.
The Sovereign has delegated authority to the Prime Minister to approve the acceptance and
wearing of any Commonwealth honour by a New Zealand citizen.
For other foreign honours (including the United States Legion of Merit), the Sovereign has
delegated authority to the Governor-General, on the advice of the Prime Minister, to approve
the acceptance and wearing of any foreign honour by a New Zealand citizen.
Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia
On 2 May 2022 the Honours Unit of the Cabinet Office received a request from the Australian
government via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), seeking approval for the
then Chief of Defence Force, Air Marshal Kevin Short, to be appointed as an Honorary Officer
of the Order of Australia (Military Division). The Prime Minister Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern
approved this request on 21 May 2022.
4893275
CABINET OFFICE, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, WELLINGTON 6011, NEW ZEALAND
Telephone: +64 (4) 830 5010. Email: [email address]
www.dpmc.govt.nz
I have decided to release the documents recording the Prime Minister’s approval of this
honour (see attached). I have withheld some information in those documents under the
following grounds of the Act:
s6(b)(i), release would likely prejudice the entrusting of information on a basis of
confidence by a Government of another country;
s9(2)(f)(iv), to maintain the confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers of the
Crown and officials;
s9(2)(g)(i), to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free and
frank expression of opinion.
In making my decision, in accordance with section 9(1) of the Act I have considered whether
the public interest in disclosure outweighs the need to withhold the redacted information, and
I have concluded that it does not.
Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern approved the honour for Air Marshal Kevin Short on the condition that
it not be worn until the conclusion of his term as Chief of the Defence Force. Dispensation
was given to wear the insignia at the time of its awarding.
I have been advised by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) that Air Marshal Kevin
Short subsequently sought and obtained approval from the Minister of Defence to wear the
insignia during a State Visit of the Governor-General of Australia and while hosting the
Australian Chief of Defence Force on ANZAC Day 2024. I do not consider this approval to
be within the scope of the current request to the Cabinet Office. If you wish to seek details of
this approval, a new request should be made to the NZDF.
Commander of the Legion of Merit, United States of America
On 14 March 2024 the Honours Unit received a request from the United States’ government
via MFAT, seeking approval for Air Marshal Short to be appointed as Commander of the
Legion of Merit. The Governor-General, acting on advice of the Prime Minister Rt Hon
Christopher Luxon, approved this request on 5 April 2024.
There is one advice sheet from the Prime Minister to the Governor-General to which section
9(2)(f)(i) applies as it is a communication with the Sovereign’s representative. I have decided
to release this to you in the public interest as it records the approval of the award.
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision under
section 28(3) of the Act.
This response wil be published on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s
website during our regular publishing cycle. Typically, information is released monthly, or as
otherwise determined. Your personal information including name and contact details wil be
removed for publication.
Nāku noa, nā
Rachel Hayward
Clerk of the Executive Council
4893275
CABINET OFFICE, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, WELLINGTON 6011, NEW ZEALAND
Telephone: +64 (4) 830 5010. Email: [email address]
www.dpmc.govt.nz
