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The Victoria Cross for New Zealand (VC)

The Victoria Cross for New Zealand (VC)

Overview

The Victoria Cross for New Zealand is the highest gallantry award in the country. It is awarded for "most conspicuous gallantry, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour, self-sacrifice or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy or of belligerents".

It was instituted in 1999 to replace the British Victoria Cross for future awards to New Zealand military personnel. The medal and ribbon are identical to the British Victoria Cross instituted in 1856.

Description

The Victoria Cross for New Zealand is a bronze cross with straight edges. Its centre features the Royal Crest above a scroll that says "For Valour." The cross is connected by the letter "V" to a straight bronze bar decorated with laurel leaves and is suspended on a crimson ribbon.

A bar can be awarded for a subsequent act of gallantry worthy of recognition by the same level of award. The bars are made of bronze, are oblong in shape, and bear laurel leaves.

Recipients of the medal have the privilege of adding the letters VC after their names.

Eligibility

Individuals that demonstrate most conspicuous gallantry, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy or of belligerents, who are:

  • Members of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), including Territorial and auxiliary units, as well as those on secondment, attachment, or deployment with other Commonwealth and foreign nations.
  • NZDF members and other New Zealand personnel serving with United Nations and other peacekeeping or peace enforcement missions.
  • Military personnel from other Commonwealth and foreign nations on secondment, attachment, or deployment with the NZDF.
  • Members of the New Zealand Merchant Navy, crews of civil airlines registered in New Zealand, and members of recognised New Zealand philanthropic and welfare organisations operating under the direction or supervision of the NZDF.
  • Civilians working permanently or temporarily under the direction or supervision of the NZDF.
    Other individuals as determined by the Governor-General of New Zealand, advised by the Prime Minister or a Minister of the Crown acting on behalf of the Prime Minister.
  • Citizens of other Commonwealth and foreign countries who meet the criteria specified in the Royal Warrant are also eligible for the Awards and Bars to the Awards.

For full details:

The Royal Warrant for the New Zealand Gallantry Awards(external link)

Note: There are no separate regulations for this award. The administration instructions are included in the Royal Warrant.

Recipients

The first, and to date, only award of the Victoria Cross for New Zealand was made to Corporal Bill (Willie) Apiata, NZSAS, on 2 July 2007.

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet maintains a list of recipients of New Zealand Gallantry Awards since 1999. For more details:

See the list of recipients(external link)

Queries & requests

  • Wearing this honour

    The Victoria Cross for New Zealand is the highest special award in the New Zealand Order of Wear.  It is always worn before the New Zealand Cross.

    For more information on how to wear and care for honours, medals, and awards:

  • Nominating someone for a Bravery Award

    Nominations for acts of gallantry should be made within twelve months of the incident.  Nominations relating to events over five years ago are unlikely to be successful or considered.  

    To nominate someone for a Gallantry Award, current serving personnel may complete an MD592 and submit the form through Single Service chains of command.  Self-nominations for these awards will not be accepted.

    Nominations for ex-serving personnel or civilians may be made by any person or persons by completing a nomination form and forwarding it to the Honours Unit of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.  In-depth guidelines for making a nomination and the nomination form are available for download on the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet website.

    See the guide to nominations for New Zealand Gallantry Awards(external link)

    The processing of nominations for Gallantry Awards may take a considerable period of time, especially if the incident for which recognition is sought involves court, Courts martial, coroner, or other investigation.

  • Checking if this honour was awarded

    Honours, medals, and awards bestowed on an individual for service in the New Zealand Armed Forces are recorded in their individual service record.  NZDF Personnel Archives and Medals holds a collection of about 1.5 million service records relating to 420,000 New Zealand service personnel who served in New Zealand’s Military Forces after the First World War.

    Service records are not currently digitised, but we can locate it and find the information you might be looking for or help you book a time for you to see the records in Trentham by filling out the form on the Service Record page. 

    Request a service record