New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa

Media Advisory

2 July 2007

NZSAS Soldiers Awarded New Zealand Gallantry Medals

The Prime Minister Helen Clark announced today that four members of the New Zealand Special Air Services would receive New Zealand Gallantry awards for actions while serving in Afghanistan in 2004.

The awards were:

The Victoria Cross for New Zealand

Corporal Bill (Willy) Apiata will receive New Zealand’s highest military honour, the Victoria Cross (VC) for New Zealand.

The New Zealand Gallantry Decoration

Captain C and Corporal B will receive New Zealand’s second highest military honour, the New Zealand Gallantry Decoration (NZGD).

The New Zealand Gallantry Medal

Corporal R will receive New Zealand’s third highest military honour, the New Zealand Gallantry Medal (NZGM)

For operational security reasons no further details will be released on recipients of The New Zealand Gallantry Decoration and The New Zealand Gallantry Medal.

All four recipients have shown incredible strength of character in adverse conditions and embody the ethos and values of the New Zealand Defence Force.

ENDS

The New Zealand Defence Force website, www.nzdf.mil.nz, contains links to the following information:

- A biography of Corporal Apiata

- The citations for the four awards

- Photos of Corporal Apiata

- A fact sheet on the NZSAS

- Information on the New Zealand Gallantry medals, including a history of the New Zealand recipients of the Victoria Cross

- A statement by Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae, Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force on today’s announcement.

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