ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Orders, decorations, and medals of New Zealand

Orders, decorations, and medals are all special things that the government of New Zealand gives to people who have done something really special or brave. It's a way of saying thank you and showing that we are proud of them.

Orders are like special clubs that people belong to. They are groups of people who have done something really important for New Zealand, like helping in a war, or being a really good leader. The Queen of England gives the orders to the New Zealand government, and they decide who gets to be in them.

Decorations are like shiny pins that people can wear on their clothes. They are given to people who have done special things. There are lots of different decorations, and they all mean different things. Some are for being brave in a war, some are for helping people who have been hurt or sick, and some are for being really good at your job.

Medals are like little coins that people can wear around their neck or on their chest. They are given to people who have done really special things, like winning a sports competition or doing something really amazing to help others.

So if you ever see someone wearing an order, decoration, or medal in New Zealand, you know that they have done something really special and should be proud of themselves!