(1972-06-28) 28 June 1972 (age 51) Mangakino, New Zealand
Allegiance
New Zealand
Service/branch
New Zealand Army
Years of service
1989–2012
Rank
Corporal
Service number
M181550[1]
Unit
6th Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment New Zealand Special Air Service
Battles/wars
East Timor War in Afghanistan
Awards
Victoria Cross for New Zealand
Bill Henry "Willie" Apiata, VC (born 28 June 1972) is a former corporal in the New Zealand Special Air Service, who became the first recipient of the Victoria Cross for New Zealand. He received the award on 2 July 2007 for bravery under fire during the War in Afghanistan in 2004, in which he carried a gravely wounded comrade across a battlefield, under fire, to safety.
Apiata is the only recipient of the Victoria Cross for New Zealand, which replaced the Imperial Victoria Cross in 1999.[2][3] There are no living New Zealand recipients of the Victoria Cross, which was last awarded to a New Zealander for actions in the Second World War.[4] Apiata is the second Māori recipient of the VC after Second Lieutenant Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu (also of Te Whanau a Apanui). Apiata has donated all of his medals, including his VC, to New Zealand.[5] In 2008 he succeeded Sir Edmund Hillary as the "most trusted New Zealander".[6]
^"Special Honours List 2 July 2007 (Gallantry Awards)". DPMC. 2 July 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
^"New Zealand Honours". Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Archived from the original on 7 December 2006. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
^"Press kit related to July 2007 gallantry awards (NZ)" (PDF). NZ Government through news agency. 2 July 2007. Retrieved 1 July 2007.
^Glyn Harper and Colin Richardson. In the face of the enemy: the complete history of the Victoria Cross and New Zealand, 2006, HarperCollins Publishers (NZ), ISBN 978-1-86950-522-6.
^Apiata has gifted his VC to NZ SAS Trust, victoriacross.org.uk, 24 April 2008.
^"VC winner most trusted Kiwi – magazine". New Zealand Press Association. Stuff.co.nz. 21 June 2008. Archived from the original on 7 November 2010. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
Bill Henry "Willie" Apiata, VC (born 28 June 1972) is a former corporal in the New Zealand Special Air Service, who became the first recipient of the Victoria...
New Zealand has been awarded once, on 2 July 2007, to Lance Corporal WillieApiata for actions in 2004. The medal itself is made of gunmetal derived from...
most notably the Victoria Cross for New Zealand awarded to Corporal WillieApiata. In 2004, the unit was awarded the United States Presidential Unit Citation...
Crosses, and this has been awarded once, on 2 July 2007 to Corporal WillieApiata. The Victoria Cross for Australia is identical to the original design...
Willie Anderson (disambiguation) WillieApiata (born 1972), New Zealand Army soldier, the only recipient of the Victoria Cross for New Zealand Willie...
medals have been awarded, all for actions in the War in Afghanistan; WillieApiata received the Victoria Cross for New Zealand on 26 July 2007; on 16 January...
March 2013. "Stamp Gallery 2010". Pos.com.my. Retrieved 2018-08-24. "WillieApiata receives his VC". The New Zealand Herald. 26 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-03...
Zealand personnel. To date, there has been one recipient of that award – WillieApiata for actions in Afghanistan in 2004 – although recipients of the Victoria...
The Victoria Cross for New Zealand has been awarded once: Corporal WillieApiata (New Zealand Special Air Service) on 2 July 2007, for his actions in...
Including one living holder of the Victoria Cross for New Zealand, WillieApiata, and three living recipients of the Victoria Cross for Australia, Mark...
for New Zealand. One Victoria Cross for New Zealand was awarded to WillieApiata on 26 July 2007; four Victoria Crosses for Australia have been awarded...
and Lady Marsters Richie McCaw, Order of New Zealand representative WillieApiata, Victoria Cross for New Zealand representative Abdul Aziz, New Zealand...
presently in Ōmaio while premises are being built in Te Kaha. Corporal WillieApiata, recipient of the New Zealand Victoria Cross, awarded on 2 July 2007...
award recipients were not released for operational security reasons. WillieApiata was awarded the Victoria Cross for New Zealand, the first and so far...
acting New Zealand High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, and spouse WillieApiata, former corporal in the New Zealand Special Air Service and recipient...
television. 1 July: KiwiSaver retirement savings scheme introduced. 2 July WillieApiata receives the first Victoria Cross for New Zealand, the first New Zealander...
received 25 per cent of the vote, ahead of Victoria Cross recipient WillieApiata at 21 per cent. Then Prime Minister John Key said he was not surprised...
as of February 2024. Prominent former citizens of Mangakino include: WillieApiata VC, who was born there in 1972 Mike Rann, Australian Ambassador and...
named the third most trusted New Zealander after Victoria Cross holder WillieApiata and triple Olympic gold medallist Peter Snell in 2008. In 2007 the Meads...
musician Rena Owen, actress Rawiri Paratene, actor Keith Urban, singer WillieApiata, Victoria Cross recipient Fred Baker, soldier Con Barrell Bryce Beeston...
at an occasion attended by the Governor General Sir Jerry Mateparae, WillieApiata, VC and Minister of Education, Hekia Parata. At the 2022 World Rugby...
and the Kiwisaver retirement savings scheme. (TVNZ) 2 July – Corporal WillieApiata of the SAS is awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery under fire in Afghanistan...
of Hellmand in southern Afghanistan. July 2 - Corporal Bill Henry "Willie" Apiata of the Special Air Service of New Zealand is awarded the Victoria Cross...
Non-Fiction E3 Call Home Janet Hunt Random House New Zealand 2010 Non-Fiction WillieApiata, VC the Reluctant Hero Paul Little with John Lockyer Puffin New Zealand...
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