Leading Hand hydrographic survey technician Matthew Barber earned the medal for his work aboard the Australian frigate HMAS Melbourne, patrolling for pirates in the Gulf of Aden last year.
LH Barber (25) and two other RNZN personnel worked to support Combined Maritime Force operations in the Arabian Sea, and received the International Coalition Against Terrorism clasp with the medal.
The awards were presented by Chief of Navy Rear-admiral Jack Steer and Australian defence attaché Captain Stephanie Moles during a ceremony at the Devonport Naval Base this week.
Petty Officer seaman combat specialist Josh Tatana and Able Seaman combat specialist Dylan Thomas were the other recipients.
LH Barber said it was a great honour to be awarded the medal and clasp, and he particularly enjoyed serving with his Australian counterparts.
''To be the first in history makes this award a lot more special. Hydrographers don't get many opportunities to deploy that far afield,'' he said.
''It was a tough deployment conducting the counterpiracy operations and we spent many hours assisting boarding teams,'' he said.
LH Barber was born in Dunedin and went to Otago Boys' High School before joining the navy seven years ago.
He was based in Devonport with the maritime survey team and planned to leave the regular force at the end of the year to pursue a surveying career in Dunedin, where he hoped to join the reserve force at HMNZS Toroa.
R-adm Steer said the medals recognised the significant and long-standing defence relationship between New Zealand and Australia.
''Our navy people regularly work closely with the services of other countries. I am proud of these sailors and their efforts serving alongside their Australian shipmates,'' R-adm Steer said.
''The opportunity to wear an Australian medal offers a unique means of recognising their service.''
Capt Moles said the offer of the medal and clasp to the three sailors was an acknowledgment by the Australian Government of the high value placed on the contribution made by New Zealanders to Australian defence operations.
