Military Decorations and Distinctive Badges (Modernisation) Amendment Bill

Military Decorations and Distinctive Badges (Modernisation) Amendment Bill EXPLANATORY NOTE GENERAL POLICY STATEMENT The Military Decorations and Distinctive Badges Act 1918 is intended to provide protection against individuals who misrepresent themselves to others by presenting themselves as having a military decoration or distinctive badge, or by supplying or offering to supply a military decoration or distinctive badge to another individual. However, the financial penalty is outdated and unlikely to act as a disincentive for potential offenders, so this Bill seeks to remediate that issue. The Bill also makes a minor amendment to reflect that military service is no longer only for men. A further amendment has been made to remove the penalty from section 4 so that section 6 (Penalties) is the only section outlining penalties under the Act. CLAUSE BY CLAUSE ANALYSIS Clause 1 is the Title clause. Clause 2 is the commencement clause and provides for this Bill to come into force on the day after Royal assent. Clause 3 states that the Bill amends the Military Decorations and Distinctive Badges Act 1918. Clause 4 inserts a new section 1A , which relates to transitional matters. Clause 5 amends section 4A of the Act to remove the penalty level specified in that section. Clause 6 amends section 6 of the Act to update the penalty levels that apply to offences against section 4, and extends its application to offences against section 4A. Clause 7 inserts a new Schedule 1 , which relates to transitional matters. The Parliament of New Zealand enacts as follows: 1 Title This Act is the Military Decorations and Distinctive Badges (Modernisation) Amendment Act 2025 . 2 Commencement This Act comes into force on the day after Royal assent. 3 Principal Act This Act amends the Military Decorations and Distinctive Badges Act 1918. 4 New section 1A inserted (Transitional, savings, and related provisions) After section 1, insert: 1A Transitional, savings, and related provisions The transitional, savings, and related provisions set out in Schedule 1 have effect according to their terms. 5 Section 4A amended (Offences in respect of military decorations) In section 4A(2), delete and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $500 . In section 4A(2)(a), replace himself with themselves . 6 Section 6 amended (Penalties) In section 6, replace— a section 4 with section 4 or 4A ; and b 20 pounds with $10,000 . 7 New Schedule 1 inserted Insert the Schedule 1 set out in the Schedule of this Act as the first schedule to appear after the last section of the principal Act. New Schedule 1 inserted 1 s 1A Transitional, savings, and related provisions 1 Provisions relating to Military Decorations and Distinctive Badges (Increased Penalties) Amendment Act 2025 1 Penalties for offences committed before commencement This Act, as in force before the commencement of the Military Decorations and Distinctive Badges (Increased Penalties) Amendment Act 2025 , continues to apply in relation to offences committed before that commencement. 1 Transitional, savings, and related provisions