The New Zealand Cross

The New Zealand Cross There has been no comprehensive history of the award published in one place. Dr. Kieran explores the development of the creation and inauguration of the award, a listing of all the recipients and an outline of the New Zealand Wars from 1860 to 1872. The Victoria Cross and other decorations were being awarded to Imperial troops but the settlers in the Volunteers and Militia were not being recognised for carrying out similar acts of bravery. The recognition of acts worthy of the NZC were anticipated to become well known; however, the awards spand a period to 1910 and thus the impact of the bravery leading to an award of the NZC was not achieved. Personalities like King Tawhiao, Sir George Bowen, Sir George Grey, Lt. General Cameron, Te Kooti, Titokowaru, and Major General Whitmore were involved in the conflict. A major issue leading to battles arose due to land confiscation by the settlers. The battles were mainly restricted to the North Island; Taranaki and Wanganui on the West Coast, Waikato in the Central area and on the East Coast at, Gisborne, Napier, Tauranga, and the Urewera.

When the author resolved upon a journey to the Antipodes he was in London, just returned from Norway, Sweden, and Russia, and contemplated reaching the far-away countries of Australia and New Zealand by going due east through the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, and then crossing the Indian Ocean. But this is not the nearest route to Oceania. The English monthly mail for that part of the world is regularly forwarded from Liverpool to Boston or New York, thence across the continent of America, and by steamboat from San Francisco. These mail steamers touch at the Sandwich Islands, after which the course lies southwest into the island-dotted latitudes of the widespread South Pacific. Auckland, in New Zealand, is reached by this route in thirty-seven days from London; and Sydney, in Australia, five days later,—the two great English colonies being separated by over a thousand miles of unbroken ocean. The latter route was adopted by the writer of these pages as being both more comfortable and more expeditious. Having already experienced the sirocco-like heat of the Red Sea throughout its whole length, from Adin to Suez, the prospect of a second journey in that exhausting region was anything but attractive. The Atlantic Ocean was therefore crossed to the westward, and a fair start made from much nearer home; namely, by the American Central Pacific route. The journey by rail across our own continent was easily accomplished in one week of day-and-night travel, covering a distance of thirty-four hundred miles from Boston to San Francisco. Comfortable sleeping-cars obviate the necessity of stopping by the way for bodily rest, provided the traveller be physically strong and in good health. On a portion of the road one not only retires at his usual hour, but he also breakfasts, dines, and enjoys nearly all the domestic conveniences in the train, while it is moving at a rate varying from thirty-five to forty-five miles per hour, in such well-adjusted cars as hardly to realize that he is all the time being rapidly and surely forwarded to his destination. The pleasing variety of scenery presented to the eyes of the watchful traveller from the car windows is extremely interesting and peculiarly American, embracing peaceful, widespread, fertile fields, valleys of exquisite verdure, foaming torrents and mountain gorges, together with Alpine ranges worthy of Switzerland. Now the route skirts the largest lakes on the face of the globe, navigated by mammoth steam ships; now follows the silvery course of some broad river, or crosses a great commercial water-way, hundreds of feet above its surface, by iron bridges skilfully hung in air. For scores of miles the road may run parallel with some busy canal crowded with heavily-laden barges, slowly making their way to market. Besides winding through mountain gorges, plains, parks, and primeval forests, one passes en route through grand and populous cities numbering half a million and more of people each, as well as through pleasant towns, thrifty villages, pioneer hamlets, and Indian reservations, where the plains are as far-reaching as the open sea, the blue of the sky overhead and the yellow buffalo-grass which carpets the earth forming the only blending colors,—until by and by a distant glimpse of the waters of the Pacific signifies that the land-journey draws near its close, and soon after the young but wonderful giant city of the West, San Francisco, is reached.

From the innovative, daredevil country that introduced bungee jumping comes a revolutionary new take on golf: New Zealand Golfcross, a game where you shoot for a goal instead of a hole, with an oval, football-shaped ball. Author Burton Silver chronicles the evolution of this remarkable game, explains the unique flight properties of the oval ball, and offers shot-making tips and strategies to take onto the course.

In the past, while visiting the First World War battlefields, the author often wondered where the various Victoria Cross actions took place. He resolved to find out. In 1988, in the midst of his army career, research for this book commenced and over the years numerous sources have been consulted.Victoria Crosses on the Western Front Third Ypres 1917 is designed for the battlefield visitor as much as the armchair reader. A thorough account of each VC action is set within the wider strategic and tactical context. Detailed sketch maps show the area today, together with the battle-lines and movements of the combatants. It will allow visitors to stand upon the spot, or very close to, where each VC was won. Photographs of the battle sites richly illustrate the accounts. There is also a comprehensive biography for each recipient, covering every aspect of their lives warts and all parents and siblings, education, civilian employment, military career, wife and children, death and burial/commemoration. A host of other information, much of it published for the first time, reveals some fascinating characters, with numerous links to many famous people and events.

The voice of lamentation and the noise of weeping were heard in Hawaiki; for men's hands were lifted up to slay their own kin: so that father slew son, and son smote father, and brother strove against brother, until nowhere in all that pleasant land was there peace. Wherefore, little children hid themselves for fear; and women, having cut their cheeks with sharks' teeth, and gashed their bosoms with sharp shells and pieces of tuhua, raised the tangi for the warriors who every day passed through the portals which give upon the Waters of Reinga. But Ngahue, being a great chief, might not weep; so he sat apart in his whare, neither eating nor drinking, while he prayed to the gods and to his ancestors that they would make a way of escape from the threatening doom. For Ngahue was sore stricken, having been worsted in the fight, and well he knew that for the conquered was no mercy. Wherefore, he sat with bowed head and covered face, and prayed for light.

Describes the rugged beauty of New Zealand's countryside and cities and provides accurate information on hotels, restaurants, tours, and sports including fishing and hunting

Profiles in courage - the definitive history of the Victoria Cross and New Zealand, fully updated in this new edition. For 150 years the highest Commonwealth military decoration for gallantry has been the Victoria Cross. These are the extraordinary stories of the New Zealand VCs. Since its instigation in 1856 more than 40 Victoria Crosses have been awarded to men whose courage in the face of the enemy was recognised by their comrades. Acts of Valour tells the story of each one, from the New Zealand Wars to the Second World War and the modern battlefields of Afghanistan in the 21st century. Many more were nominated for a VC than ever received it, with some of those famously declined — Malone of Chunuk Bair, Manahi, Perkins and Stott — igniting controversy that continues today. The events, politics and philosophies of this exclusive award are examined by two leading military historians — each story powerful and unique, with compelling accounts of the battles that made our nation and forged our history. Informative, exciting and provocative, Acts of Valour presents a detailed insight into our military history — and the heroes who walked amongst us, right up to Corporal Willie Apiata, the most recent recipient of the VC, in 2007. Fully revised and updated for the pivotal centennial anniversaries of WWI.