Hi Mike
You are to be congratulated on your amazing attention to detail! I'd not noticed that the HMNZT badges could be found in 9 and 10 pearl variants.
I've checked three examples and they are all the 9 pearl type. There is a curious mark below the crossbar on the "A" of TRANSPORTS and that is common to all three of the examples.
I did see one on eBay and I think that it is this one that you illustrate (slightly darker in tone).
I'm guessing that it was a UK-based seller lending weight to the wear by Mercantile Marine men, many of whom were originally from the UK.
The website we've discussed previously still lists that complete fantasy about ambulance transport....
I would contact them but it just makes me laugh every time I see it...
Oh, and they wouldn't care anyway.
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