New Zealand Cross (1999)

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Ribbon of the medal

The New Zealand Cross ( NZC ) is New Zealand's highest civil valor award and was created by royal charter on September 20, 1999. It has the same rank as the Victoria Cross for New Zealand ; the next lowest award is the New Zealand Bravery Star . The Order Foundation is part of the effort to replace the British awards previously used in New Zealand with New Zealand's own.

The medal can be bestowed in recognition of “acts of great courage in situations of extreme danger”, even posthumously. It is a civilian award, although under certain circumstances it can also be given to members of the New Zealand Armed Forces if the act to be honored took place outside of war operations. The New Zealand military bravery awards , on the other hand, can only be awarded for deeds “ during combat operations during a war or armed conflict (including peacekeeping missions)” .

Multiple awards are indicated by bars on the ribbon. Award winners can use the abbreviation NZC after their last name .

The order replaces the George Cross as an award for deeds in New Zealand or with honorary recognition by New Zealand.

The design of the order cross is based on the New Zealand Cross from 1869, but the ribbon color has been changed to avoid confusion with the Victoria Cross .

The silver paw cross is 52 mm high and 38 mm wide with a six-pointed gold star at each end. In the center are the words "New Zealand" in a golden wreath of ferns. The cross is crowned by a golden royal crown, which is suspended from a beam with a ring and a V-shaped wire. This is adorned with golden fern leaves through which the ribbon is passed. On the reverse of the medal is the inscription "FOR BRAVERY - MO TE MAIA".

The ribbon of the award is dark blue.

Medal holder

The medal has only been awarded twice, in 1999 to:

  • Jacinda Margaret Amey for rescuing a colleague on April 24, 1992 after a shark attack while snorkeling off Campbell Island .
  • Reginald John Dixon for rescuing passengers after an Ansett New Zealand plane crash on June 9, 1995 in the Tararua Ranges near Palmerston North . Despite his own injuries, Dixon helped several other passengers to get off the plane. He was seriously burned by a sudden fire and later died in hospital.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ The New Zealand Bravery Awards Royal Warrant . New Zealand Defense Force , accessed May 18, 2018 .
  2. ^ New Zealand Gallantry and Bravery Awards . New Zealand Defense Force , accessed May 18, 2018 .
  3. ^ A b Recipients of the New Zealand Cross . New Zealand Defense Force , accessed May 18, 2018 .