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The Victoria Cross (VC) was awarded to 15 recipients for action during the New Zealand Wars. The VC is a military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of armed forces of some Commonwealth countries and previous British Empire territories. It takes precedence over all other orders, decorations and medals; it may be awarded to a person of any rank in any service and to civilians under military command. The award was officially constituted when Queen Victoria issued a warrant under the Royal sign-manual on 29 January 1856, which was gazetted on 5 February 1856. The order was backdated to 1854 to recognise acts of valour during the Crimean War.

Originally, the VC was not available to colonial troops, even if under British command, but this changed in 1867. The extension was made following a recommendation for gallantry regarding colonial soldier Major Charles Heaphy for action in the land wars in 1864. He was operating under British command and the VC was gazetted in 1867. Later that year, the Government of New Zealand assumed full responsibility for operations but no further recommendations for the Victoria Cross were raised for local troops who distinguished themselves in action. Following gallant actions by three New Zealand soldiers in November 1868 and January 1869 during the land wars, an Order in Council on 10 March 1869 created a "Distinctive Decoration" for members of the local forces without seeking permission from the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Although the Governor was chided for exceeding his authority, the Order in Council was ratified by the Queen. The title "Distinctive Decoration" was later replaced by the title New Zealand Cross.

The New Zealand Wars were a series of conflicts that took place in New Zealand between 1845 and 1872. The two conflicts where soldiers were awarded the Victoria Cross were the First Taranaki War of 1860–1861 and the Waikato-Hauhau Māori War of 1863–1866. The First Taranaki War was fought over land rights on New Zealand's North Island. The local Colonial Governor had set up a policy whereby the British Government could buy local land, and anyone refusing to sell their land would be committing treason against the Crown. When the Te Atiawa refused to sell their land, the British Army attacked on 17 March 1860, starting the First Taranaki War. After a series of sieges by the British, a truce was signed with the Māori people in March 1861; the disputed land became British-owned territory but it remained in possession of the Māori people. The First Taranaki War ended in a stalemate over the one area of disputed land. By 1863 the influx of settlers and consequent demand for land led to further conflict. In July 1863, the British Army and the Auckland Militia launched the Invasion of Waikato against the forces of Tāwhiao and the Māori King Movement. The British expelled the Māori people from their lands, swiftly moving south, culminating in the defeat and flight of Tāwhiao at Ōrākau in March 1864. The British pursued him across the country as far as the fourth Waikato defensive line, which later became the border of King Country.

Recipients

Further reading

• "Victoria Cross Registers". National Archives (UK). Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 11 April 2008.
• Arthur, Max (2005). Symbol of Courage; Men behind the Medal. Pan books. pp. 98–104. ISBN 978-0-330-49133-4.
• Ashcroft, Michael (2006). Victoria Cross Heroes. Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0755316320.
• Crook, M.J. (1975). The Evolution of the Victoria Cross. Midas books. ISBN 0859360415.
• Harper, Glyn; Richardson, Colin (2006). In the face of the enemy: the complete history of the Victoria Cross and New Zealand. HarperCollins Auckland. ISBN 1869505220.

References

1. Ashcroft, Michael; preface; pp.XI–XIII
2. Ashcroft, Michael; Preface to Victoria Cross Heroes
3. "No. 21846". The London Gazette. 5 February 1856. pp. 410–411. The Gazette publishing the original Royal Warrant
4. Ashcroft, Michael; pp.7–10
5. "HEAPHY, Charles". New Zealand Encyclopedia. 1966. Archived from the original on 15 August 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2007.
6. ^ Abbott PE, Tamplin JMA, Chapter 34, pp.230–236
7. "New Zealand Cross". New Zealand Encyclopedia. 1966. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2007.
8. Arthur, Max; pp.98–99
9. Arthur, Max; pp.102–103

External links

• Victoria Cross: Awards to Imperial Servicemen during the 2nd Maori War Archived 2 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine
• Heroes of The Maori Wars (1934 article) Archived 29 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine

• New Zealand Wars
• New Zealand Wars recipients of the Victoria Cross
• New Zealand recipients of the Victoria Cross
• Military awards and decorations of New Zealand
• Lists of recipients of the Victoria Cross by conflict
• New Zealand military-related lists