Victoria Cross for New Zealand

Victoria Cross for New Zealand
Type	Military decoration
Awarded for	"... 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 belligerents."
Presented by	New Zealand
Eligibility	New Zealand military personnel
Status	Currently awarded
Established	24 September 1999
First awarded	2 July 2007
Last awarded	2007
Founder	Elizabeth II
Total	1
Ribbon: 32 millimetres, crimson.
Precedence
Next (higher)	Highest
Equivalent	New Zealand Cross
Next (lower)	New Zealand Gallantry Star

The Victoria Cross for New Zealand (VC; Māori: Rīpeka Wikitōria mo Aotearoa) is a military decoration awarded for valour or gallantry in the presence of the enemy to members of the New Zealand Armed Forces. It may be awarded to a person of any rank in any service and civilians under military command, and is presented to the recipient by the governor-general of New Zealand during an investiture held at Government House, Wellington. As the highest award for gallantry in New Zealand it takes precedence over all other postnominals and medals.^[1]

The Victoria Cross for New Zealand was established in 1999 when New Zealand created a new award system that replaced several British honours with New Zealand awards. It is based on the original British Victoria Cross introduced in 1856 by Queen Victoria to reward acts of valour during the Crimean War. The Victoria Cross for New Zealand has been awarded once, on 2 July 2007, to Lance Corporal Willie Apiata for actions in 2004. The medal itself is made of gunmetal derived from cannons captured by the British in 19th century campaigns in either Russia or China. Australia and Canada also have their own versions of the Victoria Cross which are used as the highest award for gallantry by military personnel of those countries.