The sale of military medals and the Protected Objects Act

The sale of military medals can be an emotive issue. Some may see the sale as ‘cheapening’ the value of the medal by allowing it to be a commodity.

Others see medals as legitimate items to collect, as a reminder of history. 

Trade Me is allows the sale military medal sales but there are a couple of points to consider.

Certain medals will fall under the ambit of the Protected Objects Act 1975.

Effectively that means the medals cannot be sold on site and thensent to an overseas party, such as an Australian Trade Me member. (Such transactions are subject to approval by the Ministry of Culture and Heritage).

Medals are deemed ‘protected’ if they’re considered important to NZ for ‘archaeological, architectural, artistic, cultural, historical, literary, scientific, social, spiritual, technological, or traditional reasons.’

This would include many medals that form part of New Zealand’s military history.

For example you’d never see a medal like Willie Apiata’s 'Victoria Cross of New Zealand' being allowed to be sold to a foreign collector.

If what you’re selling is covered by the Act, and you want to sell it to an overseas buyer, you must seek export permission from Ministry of Culture and Heritage.

If you have any doubt about the medal you wish to list, we suggest you contact the Ministry of Culture and Heritage for advice.

For absolute clarity, medals currently in New Zealand that are covered by the Act cannot be sold to Australian members.

There is one kind of medal that we don’t allow, and that’s the kind that would be considered likely to fall under our Nazi memorabilia policy.