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NZ Police information page
The NZ Police have an Operation Valour page with information and contacts available. See Operation Valour web page.
Medals Recovered - Feb 2008
Police Updates
Formal Reward Offered
On 17 January 2008 New Zealand Police Commissioner Howard Broad announced that a NZ$300,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the return of the medals stolen from the NZ Army Museum in December last year:
The NZ Army welcomed the announcement of a reward offered for information leading to the safe return of the medals:
NZDF Statement
NZDF Media Release - Elliot medal group loaned to army museum
Early on the morning of December 2 security staff were alerted to an alarm activation caused by a forced entry at the Waiouru Army Museum. Upon attending the scene they found the museum's Valour annex had been targeted and a number of displays broken into.
As the investigation is still being conducted, a definitive list of what has been taken is not available. However it is feared that a number of Victoria Crosses, George Crosses and other medals have been stolen.
The Victoria Cross for New Zealand medal, recently awarded to Corporal Willie Apiata VC, is not one of the medals believed stolen.
Chief of Army Major General Lou Gardiner said the theft was far bigger than a theft from the New Zealand Army.
“This theft is not just from the New Zealand Defence Force and the Army, it is a theft from the Nation. New Zealand’s history and heritage is closely interwoven with its military history and heritage.
“These medals were awarded to their recipients for their extraordinary valour, and have come to symbolise the huge sacrifices that all New Zealanders made in the many conflicts fought for the freedoms we have come to accept.
“Their theft is a theft from New Zealand and as such is a serious crime calling for the co-operation of all New Zealanders in their recovery.
The NZDF and NZ Army are working closely with police who are leading this investigation. Customs have also been notified and have put out a border alert.
The NZ Police have set up a hotline number and have asked for anyone in the Waiouru area or passing through Waiouru between 2400 and 0200 on Sunday morning who may have saw anything to contact them.
Medal Recipients: Biographies below in pdf format
Relevant Links
Medal Information
Contact
Media seeking NZDF information please contact Dave Courtney, Defence Public Relations on 021 487 980 or 04 496 0296.
Operation Valour freephone: 0800 VALOUR 825 687
This page was last reviewed on 22 October 2008 and is current.
