A special hand-woven Maori cloak has been made for the Defence Force, and will be worn by soldiers who've achieved noteable things.

The cloak is called Nga Tapuwae, and honours battles where New Zealanders who have fought, and both those who've died and those who've returned home.

Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Tim Keating, said the idea came from the grassroots of the military.

“The organisation has said we need something like this that we can be proud of, for junior members and any member of the defence force to wear.

The cloak has been woven for the military by Warrant Officer Class One Robert Jobe, who took around a year to make it. He said a trip to Gallipoli helped form the concept for the cloak.

“It just added to everything. It added to the feeling of the cloak, it added to the wairau, the mauri of it. Everyone was able to handle it as well.”

Mr Keating said the cloak will evolve as it's passed on to different people. He said their story, and the occasion on which they wear it, will add to the richness of the cloak itself.

The first person to wear the cloak will be reservist of the year, Lance Corporal Nicholas Hill, at this month's ANZAC service at Gallipoli.