Willie Apiata Vc

'At 0900 on Sunday 01 July my CO handed me three letters to read. The first was from the Governor General, the second from the Prime Minister and the third was from the Minister of Defence. These letters informed me that I had been awarded the Victoria Cross for New Zealand (V.C.).' Cpl Bill (Willie) Apiata, V.C. Corporal Willie Apiata became the first New Zealander since the Second World War to be awarded the Commonwealth's highest military award for his actions with the NZ SAS in Afghanistan. From his early life in small town East Coast New Zealand to his actions in the deserts of Afghanistan, this is his story in his words. This book will not only establish the place of Corporal Apiata in New Zealand's history but will give an insight into the nature of a man who is truly a reluctant hero. While to most of us his actions seemed extraordinary and heroic, Corporal Apiata felt he was an ordinary Kiwi just 'doing his job'.

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.

'a powerful text that will benefit any reader' - Dr Richard Harris SC, OAM, hero of the Thai cave rescue Life is hard. Rocketing rates of physical and mental health issues are testimony to the immense pressures of our complex world. So how do we become tough and adaptable to face life's challenges? The Resilience Shield provides that defence. In their groundbreaking guide to overcoming adversity, Australian SAS veterans Dr Dan Pronk, Ben Pronk DSC and Tim Curtis take you behind the scenes of special operations missions, into the boardrooms of leading companies and through the depths of contemporary research in order to demystify and define resilience. Through lessons learned in and out of uniform, they've come to understand the critical components of resilience and how it can be developed in anyone - including you. The Resilience Shield explores the hard-won resilience secrets of elite soldiers and the latest thinking on mental and physical wellbeing. This book will equip you with an arsenal of practical tools for you to start making immediate improvements in your life that are attainable and sustainable. Let's build your shield! Praise for The Resilience Shield 'informative and enlightening . . . compelling lessons and advice' - The Hon Julie Bishop 'Clear, approachable insights into resilience' - Merrick Watts 'A blend of raw experience and impeccable science...a brilliant guidebook for our times' - Hugh Mackay AO

As an army private, Johnson Beharry served in Kosovo, Northern Ireland and Iraq. In Iraq in 2004, his actions in rescuing his wounded comrades while under heavy fire led to him becoming the youngest person ever to receive the Victoria Cross. Since then, Johnson has made hundreds of public appearances, speaking about his experiences with children and young people in schools, youth offenders' centres and prisons. He is currently working on setting up a charity - the JBVC Foundation - to help prevent young people becoming involved in crime and gang culture. He has even appeared in a series of Dancing on Ice (2011 series) reaching the semi-final stage.

Inspired by the true story of Walter Tull, the first black officer in the British army, this is a stunning new novel of identity and loss by Michael Morpurgo, biggest UK children’s author and the bestselling, award-winning writer of War Horse, now a smash West End and Broadway hit as well as an Oscar-nominated movie.

Based on in-depth research and interviews with 30 tribal elders, this guidebook to whaikorero—or New Zealand's traditional Maori oratory—is the first introduction to this fundamental art form. Assessing whaikorero's origin, history, structure, language, and style of delivery, this volume features a range of speech samples in Maori with English translations and captures the wisdom and experience of the Maori tribal groups, including Ngai Tuhoe, Ngati Awa, Te Arawa, and Waikato-Maniapoto. Informative and noteworthy, this bilingual examination will interest both modern practitioners of whaikorero and Maori culture aficionados.

From gifted and unorthodox doctor, to wife-beating bully, to Star Wars bounty hunter, one thing Temuera Morrison can't be accused of is being typecast. With humble beginnings in the rural backblocks of Rotorua, Temuera's early life gave him a strong sense of family, community and culture. Following his father's tragic death when Temuera was just 14 years old, he developed his love of – and talent for – performing through kapa haka. It was the attention Temuera received as the violent and abusive Jake Heke in Once Were Warriors that brought him international acclaim and ultimately propelled him to Hollywood. In his memoir, Temuera talks about the roles he has played, the famous people he has worked alongside (including Pamela Anderson, Marlon Brando, Harrison Ford, Michael Jackson and George Lucas), the mistakes he's made in his life and the lessons he's learned along the way. This is a truly entertaining account of an event-packed life.

The New Zealand Police Armed Offenders Squads are never far from the headlines. Called out to the wost-case scenarios in which lives are in danger, their exploits make them a media magnet. But despite this, little is known about the people behind the masks. In conjunction with the TV documentary series Line of Fire, this book seeks to go behind the public facade of the AOS to get inside the heads of men and women who have served in the squads through the five decades of their existence. To find out what sort of person willingly steps into the line of fire to ensure that the country we live in is a safer place.