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Three Other Awards to be Made
Three other gallantry awards are to be made to SAS members following the same 2004 Afghanistan incident. The New Zealand Gallantry decoration will be awarded to an SAS captain and a corporal. None of the three will be named because of security considerations. The captain is to receive his award for an exceptional act of gallantry and leadership under heavy fire and his leadership in general throughout the tour of operations.
The corporal is to receive the New Zealand Gallantry decoration for displaying outstanding courage and leadership and accepting extraordinary risks during his tour of operations.
Another corporal is to receive the New Zealand Gallantry medal for gallantry and the application of firm and timely leadership under extreme combat conditions.
The actions that earned Corporal Apiata the highest valour award, and the actions of the other three recipients, are in keeping with the New Zealand Army’s heritage of selfless service, says Chief of Army, Major General Lou Gardiner.
“They demonstrate that the soldiers of today strive to live the Army’s values of courage, commitment, comradeship and integrity. This is a proud day for the New Zealand Army and adds to the already rich history of its soldiers performing their duty to the highest standard. It is also a very proud moment for the NZSAS whose recent service in Afghanistan enhanced their reputation and reinforced their culture of professional excellence, humility and selfless service. This culture ensures that personal achievements and needs are always second to the achievements and needs of the team.”
He said Corporal Apiata is a role model. “He’s a humble, self-effacing good Kiwi bloke who did it for his mates.”
This page was last reviewed on 31 July 2007 and is current.
