Anzac of the Year Award

[4] Barbara Cunningham of Mataura, Southland, received the 2016 Award for her work establishing a community garden to help people who could not afford to buy vegetables.

She had been nominated by the Katherine Mansfield Birthplace Association for her courage in demanding accountability over her allegations of rape by New Zealand Police officers despite significant opposition and scrutiny.

Avatea prevented a potentially fatal accident on State Highway 1 between Auckland and Hamilton; he noticed a truck was being driven erratically and followed it, eventually gaining an opportunity to board the vehicle and bring it under control.

[3] 12-year old cousins Will White and Sergio Schuler received the 2013 Award for their bravery in rescuing a swimmer caught in a rip at a beach in Waihi.

[2] The boys used their surf lifesaver training to call for help, then swim out to support the swimmer, bring him back to the shore and stay with him until emergency services arrived.

[9] Masters had served in the New Zealand Army for 27 years, seeing active service in Malaysia, Borneo and Vietnam, and he had also received the Military Cross for bravery in rescuing a Ghurka soldier.