The change in name will not apply retrospectively to previously awarded badges, or affect the associated post-nominals of the recipients.

[2] The monarch of New Zealand is the Sovereign Head of the order and those who are appointed as members are "Companions".

Those citizens of countries not sharing the monarch of New Zealand as their head of state may be appointed as "Honorary Companions".

"Additional Companions" may be appointed in honour of important royal, state or national occasions.

The clerk of New Zealand's Executive Council, or another person appointed by the Sovereign Head, is the “Secretary and Registrar” of the Order.

The insignia of the order is a stylised mānuka flower with five petals, which contains the effigy of the reigning monarch surrounded by a red circle inscribed FOR SERVICE — MŌ NGA MAHI NUI, crowned at the top.

The ribbon has a traditional Māori Poutama motif of black, white and red ochre (kōkōwai) diagonal 'steps' (signifying the growth of man, striving ever upwards)[4] in the centre with red ochre stripes along each edge of the ribbon.

Women have been known to wear it thus, even in civilian attire, such as Anne, Princess Royal in the otherwise male procession behind her father's coffin.