1. Willie Apiata 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.
25 Facts About Willie Apiata
1. 2.
Willie Apiata is the second Maori recipient of the VC serving with New Zealand forces, after Second Lieutenant Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu.
3.
Willie Apiata has donated all of his medals, including his VC, to New Zealand.
4.
Willie Apiata's father is Maori and his mother is of European descent.
5.
Willie Apiata's parents separated, and he has not had contact with his father for several years.
6.
Willie Apiata attended Te Whanau-a-Apanui Area School in Te Kaha, which he left at the age of 15.
7.
In September 2011 Willie Apiata was married to Sade, a chef in the army, but they have since divorced.
8.
Willie Apiata enlisted in the New Zealand Army on 6 October 1989 in the Territorial Force Hauraki Regiment of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment.
9.
Willie Apiata unsuccessfully attempted to join the Special Air Service in 1996.
10.
Willie Apiata was re-deployed to Afghanistan with the NZSAS in 2009 when the New Zealand government opted to return troops to that country.
11.
Poupin, who did not know Willie Apiata, photographed Willie Apiata and two companions as they were leaving the "thick of the fight" because "They looked like foreign troops and they were tall and had a specific face, they looked tough and strong".
12.
One photo was widely reproduced in New Zealand newspapers, prompting Prime Minister John Key to publicly acknowledge that Willie Apiata was one of the soldiers depicted.
13.
The publication has reopened the debate on the publication of images identifying New Zealand Special Forces personnel with some concerns that in doing so Willie Apiata could become a target for insurgents.
14.
Around 18 July 2012, Willie Apiata left full-time military service to teach adventure skills to young people.
15.
Willie Apiata did not resign from the Army and remains with the NZSAS Reserve Forces.
16.
On 22 May 2024, Willie Apiata was promoted to honorary warrant officer class one.
17.
Willie Apiata was part of a New Zealand Special Air Service Troop in Afghanistan in 2004 that was attacked by about 20 enemy fighters while holed-up for the night in a rocky rural area.
18.
Willie Apiata assumed command of the situation, deciding all three would need to rejoin the troop which was about 70 metres to the rear.
19.
Willie Apiata decided his only option was to carry Corporal D to safety, and none of the three were hit during the retreat.
20.
Willie Apiata became one of the very few living holders of the Victoria Cross.
21.
In total disregard of his own safety, Lance Corporal Willie Apiata stood up and lifted his comrade bodily.
22.
Willie Apiata then carried him across the seventy metres of broken, rocky and fire swept ground, fully exposed in the glare of battle to heavy enemy fire and into the face of returning fire from the main Troop position.
23.
Willie Apiata represented recipients of the Cross at the Coronation of Charles III and Camilla.
24.
In early April 2025, Willie Apiata gave this Victoria Cross of New Zealand medal to Minister for Veterans Chris Penk as part of efforts to lobby the New Zealand Parliament to pass legislation changing the definition of veterans.
25.
Willie Apiata is entitled to wear the emblem of the US Navy and Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation on the right breast of the uniform.