Victoria Cross Awarded to New Zealand Soldier

The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark announced today (2nd July 2007) that the Victoria Cross for New Zealand has been awarded to Corporal Bill (Willie) Apiata. The Queen has conferred New Zealand Gallantry Awards on four members of the New Zealand Special Air Service (NZSAS).

The Victoria Cross for New Zealand has been awarded to Corporal Bill (Willie) Apiata.
The New Zealand Gallantry Decoration has been awarded to two members of the New Zealand Special Air Service.
The New Zealand Gallantry Medal has been awarded to one member of the New Zealand Special Air Service.

This is an incredibly proud moment for New Zealand, the New Zealand Defence Force and the NZSAS. Corporal Apiata’s VC is the first to a serving member of the SAS anywhere in the Commonwealth and the first New Zealand Victoria Cross to be awarded.

The NZSAS soldiers actions showed the true spirit of our core values of courage, commitment, comradeship and integrity.

The Victoria Cross is the highest recognition for gallantry that can be awarded to members of the armed forces of Commonwealth countries.

For security reasons, the names of the recipients of the Gallantry Decorations and the Gallantry Medal, together with their citations, will not be released.

Corporal Apiata has been awarded the VC for showing the highest order of courage under fire by rescuing a critically injured soldier in total disregard for his own safety. Having delivered his wounded companion to relative shelter with the remainder of the patrol, Corporal Apiata re-armed himself and rejoined the fight in counter-attack.