New Zealand Cross - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The New Zealand Cross was introduced in 1869 during the Land Wars in New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

. The wars were fought between the natives of New Zealand, the Māori, and European settlers known as Pākehā

Pakeha

Pākehā is a Māori language word for New Zealanders who are "of European descent". They are mostly descended from British and to a lesser extent Irish settlers of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, although some Pākehā have Dutch, Scandinavian, German, Yugoslav or other ancestry...

who were assisted by British

British Empire

The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...

or Imperial troops.

Many acts of bravery, gallantry and devotion to duty were recorded among the local militia, armed constabulary and volunteers, but only the Imperial troops were eligible for the highest British recognition of valour, the Victoria Cross

Victoria Cross

The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....

.

Recognising the inequality of this, the Governor of New Zealand

Governor-General of New Zealand

The Governor-General of New Zealand is the representative of the monarch of New Zealand . The Governor-General acts as the Queen's vice-regal representative in New Zealand and is often viewed as the de facto head of state....

of the time, Sir George Bowen

George Ferguson Bowen

Sir George Ferguson Bowen GCMG was a British colonial administrator whose appointments included postings to the Ionian Islands, Queensland , New Zealand, Victoria , Mauritius and Hong Kong....

, announced a new medal of equivalent rank to the VC.

He was widely criticised in England, and accused of usurping the prerogative of Queen Victoria

Victoria of the United Kingdom

Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....

, but she eventually ratified his action and the New Zealand Cross, introduced on 10 March 1869, continued to be awarded through to 1881.

Only 23 New Zealand Crosses were awarded, making it one of the rarest medals recognising bravery in the world, and it has rarely been sold. The cross was awarded retrospectively for some actions that had taken place before it was instituted.

It has the form of a silver cross pattée with a gold star on each arm. The words New Zealand, in gold, are encircled by a laurel wreath in the centre. The cross is surmounted by a gold crown. A crimson ribbon passes through a silver bar with small gold laurel leaves.

Recipients

Recipients of the original New Zealand Cross were:

Private Thomas Adamson, Corps of Guides, Ahikereru, 1869.
Constable Henare Kepa te Ahururu, 1st Division, Armed Constabulary, Moturoa, 1868.
Sergeant Samuel Austin, Wanganui
Wanganui
Whanganui , also spelled Wanganui, is an urban area and district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Manawatu-Wanganui region....

Contingent, Putahi Pa and Keteonetea, 1866.
Constable Solomon Black, 1st Division, Armed Constabulary, Ngatapa, 1869.
Constable Benjamin Biddle
Benedict Biddle
Benedict 'Ben' Biddle, NZC, one of New Zealand's last land wars heroes, was awarded the rare New Zealand Cross for his acts of bravery at Ngatapa Pā, Gisborne in January 1869...

, 1st Division, Armed Constabulary, Ngatapa, 1869.
Sergeant Arthur Wakefield Carkeek, Armed Constabulary, Ohinemutu, 1870.
Dr Isaac Earl Featherston
Isaac Featherston
Dr. Isaac Earl Featherston was a New Zealand politician, and was known for his advocacy for the establishment of New Zealand self-government, and the importance of the provincial governments.-Early life:...

, Native Contingent, Otapawa Pa, 1866.
Sergeant George (Rowley) Hill, 1st Division, Armed Constabulary, Jerusalem Pa
Jerusalem, New Zealand
Jerusalem was once an important kainga on the Whanganui River in New Zealand where a Roman Catholic mission was first established in 1854....

, 1869.
Trooper William Lingard, Kai Iwi Cavalry Volunteers, Tauranga-ika, 1868.
Captain Francis Joseph (Frank) Mace, Taranaki
Taranaki Province
The Taranaki Province was a province of New Zealand from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876...

Militia, Kaitikara River, 1863.
Captain Gilbert Mair, NZ Militia, Rotoma, 1870.
Sergeant Christopher Louis Maling, Corps of Guides, Tauranga-ika, 1868.
Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas McDonnell, NZ Militia, Paparatu, 1863 and Putahi Pa, 1866.
Ensign Henry William Northcroft, Patea Rangers, Pungarehu and Tirotiro Moana, 1866
Sub-inspector George Augustus Preece, Armed Constabulary, Ngatapa, 1869
Major Kepa Te Rangihiwinui
Kepa Te Rangihiwinui
Kepa Te Rangihiwinui was Māori military commander and noted ally of the government forces during the New Zealand Wars. He was also known as Te Kepa, or Major Kepa or sometimes as Major Kemp. Te Kepa was a member of the Ngati Hau tribe or iwi...

, NZ Militia (Native Contingent), Moturoa, 1868, and Otauto 1869.
Inspector John Mackintosh Roberts, Armed Constabulary, Moturoa, 1868.
Trooper Antonio Rodriques de Sardinha,Taranaki Mounted Volunteers, Poutoko 1863 and Kaitake, 1864.
Sergeant Richard Shepherd, Armed Constabulary, Otauto, 1869.
Cornet Angus Smith, Bay of Plenty
Bay of Plenty
The Bay of Plenty , often abbreviated to BOP, is a region in the North Island of New Zealand situated around the body of water of the same name...

Cavalry Volunteers, Opepe, 1869.
Major Ropata Wahawaha
Ropata Wahawaha
Ropata Wahawaha was a Ngāti Porou war chief who rose to prominence during New Zealand's East Cape War and to senior command during Te Kooti's War.-Childhood and names:...

, Native Contingent, Ngatapa, 1869.
Assistant-Surgeon Samuel Walker, Armed Constabulary, Otauto, 1869.
Cornet Harry Charles William Wrigg, Bay of Plenty Cavalry Volunteers, Opotiki, 1867.

One colonial soldier, Major Charles Heaphy

Charles Heaphy

Major Charles Heaphy VC was a New Zealand explorer and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious military award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....

was awarded the VC for his actions in 1864, when he was commanding British troops. See List of New Zealander Victoria Cross recipients and New Zealand Land Wars Victoria Cross recipients

New Zealand Land Wars Victoria Cross recipients

The Victoria Cross was awarded to 15 recipients for action during the New Zealand Land Wars. The VC is a military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of armed forces of some Commonwealth countries and previous British Empire territories...

1999 Medal

In 1999, the New Zealand Cross

New Zealand Cross (1999)

The New Zealand Cross is New Zealand's highest award for civilian bravery. It was instituted by Royal Warrant on 20 September 1999 as part of the move to replace British bravery awards with an indigenous New Zealand Bravery system. The medal, which may be awarded posthumously, is granted in...

was re-instituted. The Royal Warrant of 20 September 1999 created four awards for bravery and four for gallantry.

The new New Zealand Cross for Bravery is similar to the 1869 medal with some amendments. The Crown is now the current St Edward's Crown instead of a Victorian Crown, and New Zealand fern fronds replace laurel leaves. The ribbon is bright blue, a colour traditionally associated with bravery awards.

There is also a new Victoria Cross for New Zealand for Gallantry, which has the same crimson ribbon and is made to the same design and of the same gunmetal as the British VC.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.