======== NZ CROSS - New Zealander's who were awarded the NZ Cross =========
RESOURCE: c 1994 The Electric Book Company Ltd.
NEW ZEALAND CROSS
The New Zealand Cross was an award for members of locally raised forces
during the New Zealand Wars. The New Zealand Cross was instituted by an
Order in Council on 10 March 1869, by the governor, Sir George Bowen. It
was immediately conferred on five recipients. Bowen had decided that,
because the locally raised fighting men had been ruled ineligible for
the Victoria Cross, some major award was needed to keep morale up during
the tiresome campaigns against rebellious maori. The Governor was rebuked
by the Colonial Office for making the decision without the approval of
the British Government.
The New Zealand Cross is now regarded as one of the rarest decorations in
the world. Twenty-three were awarded and were gazetted between 1869 and
1910. Although some of the awards were not officially gazetted until
many years later, all the actions took place between 1863 and 1876.
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Last name, First name Birth/death Actions Performed At
/Received NZ Cross
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ADAMSON, Thomas (1847-1913) Ahikereru May.1869
/?
AHURURU, Henare Kepa Te Moturoa 7 Nov.1868
/?
AUSTIN, Samuel (1829-1903) Putahi Pa 1866
/?
BIDDLE, Benjamin (1848-1933) Ngatapa Jan.1869
/Mar.1869
BLACK, Solomon (1834-?) Ngatapa Jan.1869
/Mar.1869
BULLER, Sir Walter Lawry (1838-1906) Weraroa - Wanganui
/1865
CARKEEK, Sgt Arthur Wakefield (1843-97) Ohinemutu 8 Feb.1870
/?
de SARDINHA, Antonio Rodriquez Kaitake Mar.1864, & Poutoko Oct.1863
/1877
FEATHERSTON, Isaac Earl (1813-76) Otapawa Pa Jan.1866
/?
HILL, Sgt George Rowley (1837-1930) Jerusalem Pa, Mohaka Apr.1869
*KEPA, Te Rangihiwinui (1823-98) Moturoa Nov.1868, & Otautu Mar.1869
/1876
LINGARD, William (1845-1922) Taurangaika Dec.1868
/?
MACE, Francis Joseph (1837-1927) Kaitake Mar.1864, & Kaitikara River Jun.1863
/1877
MAIR, Gilbert Mair (1843-1923) Ohinemutu Feb.1870
/?
MALING, Christopher Louis (1843-1917) Taurangaika Feb.1869
/?
McDONNELL, Thomas (1832-99) Paparatu Oct.1863 & Putahi Pah Jan.1866
/1886
NORTHCROFT, Henry William (1844-1923) Pungarehu Oct.1866 & Tirotiro Moana Nov.1866
/1910
PREECE, George Augustus (1845-1925) Ngatapa Jan.1869
/?
ROBERTS, John Mackintosh (1840-1928) Moturoa Pa Nov.1868
/?
SHEPHERD, Richard (1837-1913) Otautu Mar.1869
/?
SMITH, Angus (1832-1902) Bay of Plenty 7 Jun.1869
/?
*WAHAWAHA, Ropata (1807-97) Ngatapa Jan.1869
/?
WALKER, Samuel (1842-80) Otautu Mar.1869
/?
WRIGG, Harry Charles William (1842-1924) Opotiki Jun.1867
/?
*Also received Sword of Honour from Queen Victoria
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ADAMSON, Thomas (1847-1913) b.Wanganui.
Awarded the New Zealand Cross for gallantry in 1876 for an action at
Ahikereru in May 1869. He was seriously wounded in the clash, but
later farmed near Taihape.
AHURURU, Henare Kepa Te
The first of four maori awarded the New Zealand Cross for helping the
settlers during the New Zealand Wars. The award was for conspicuous
bravery at Moturoa on 7 November 1868. He later deserted and was living
at Ruatoki in 1878. Even though the Order-in-Council setting up the
decoration provided for the name of any recipient to be struck from the
roll of honour in the event of any 'infamous or disgraceful act',
Ahururu's name was left on after his desertion.
AUSTIN, Samuel (1829-1903) b. Ireland - 65th Regiment.
Served with the Wanganui Native Contingent in 1866 at the capture of
Putahi Pa. He was awarded the New Zealand Cross when he rescued the
seriously wounded Lieutenant-Colonel McDonnell, and carried him to
safety under heavy fire.
BIDDLE, Benjamin (1848-1933)
One of the first three men awarded the New Zealand Cross by Gazette on
25 March 1869 (along with Henare Ahururu and Solomon Black), for
bravery at Ngatapa in January 1869 against Te Kooti and the Hauhau.
BLACK, Solomon (1834-?), b. Scotland.
Awarded the New Zealand Cross on 25 March 1869. Black was a private in
No 1 Division of the Armed Constabulary, and received his decoration
for gallantry in holding his position in the siege of Ngatapa, against
Te Kooti on 8 January 1869.
BULLER, Sir Walter Lawry (1838-1906) b.NZ.
He became a Native Land Court Judge, and won the New Zealand Cross in
1865 for carrying despatches from Weraroa to Wanganui during the
Taranaki campaign in the New Zealand Wars. He was interpreter to the
Wellington Magistrate Court, Native Commissioner for the southern
provinces, Native Land Court Judge, secretary to the Agent-General
for NZ, lawyer for the Native Land Court.
CARKEEK, Sergeant Arthur Wakefield (1843-97) b.Nelson.
Won the New Zealand Cross at Ohinemutu while serving with the Armed
Constabulary on 8 February 1870. A part-maori, Carkeek won his medal
for travelling 30 miles (48 km) from Ohinemutu, when Te Kooti attacked,
to get help for the beleaguered force.
de SARDINHA, Trooper Antonio Rodriquez de Sardinha, b. Portugul
Won the New Zealand Cross after joining the Volunteer Force in Taranaki
at the outbreak of the wars, and was awarded the New Zealand Cross in
1877 for gallantry at Kaitake in March 1864, and at Poutoko in October
1863. Later farmed in the New Plymouth area.
FEATHERSTON, Isaac Earl (1813-76) b. England, graduated as a physician
Although never in robust health, he was an outstanding soldier during
the New Zealand Wars against the maori and on more than one occasion
the maori fighting for the european would not move without him. On one
such occasion he could hardly sit on his horse but led troops at the
storming and capture of Otapawa Pa (January 1866) for which he was
awarded the New Zealand Cross. He was Superintendent of Wellington
(1853-1870), Member of Parliament from (1853-1870). NZ's Agent-General,
London (1871 - June 1876), where he died.
KEPA, Te Rangihiwinui 'Major Kemp' (1823-98),
A Putiki chief from Wanganui. He worked with the colonists during the 1860s
as commander of the Wanganui Native Contingent of the New Zealand Militia.
He served on the west coast of the North Island from 1864 to 1871, and was
awarded the New Zealand Cross in 1876 for actions at Moturoa in November
1868, and at Otautu in March 1869. Major Kemp later served against Te Kooti
and received a Sword of Honour from Queen Victoria for his services. Became
Government Land Purchase Officer at Wanganui, but fell out of favour when
he laid claim to land in the Horowhenua block for himself.
HILL, Sergeant George Rowley (1837-1930) b. immigrant. Emigrated in 1863.
Hill won the New Zealand Cross after joining von Tempsky's Forest Rangers.
His award was for valour in action at Jerusalem Pa near Mohaka in April
1869. Hill was awarded two medals by the Royal Humane Society for saving
life, one in 1860 and the other in 1896. He later served with the NZ army
and tried to enlist for the South African War at the age of 63. His
retirement was spent at Takapuna.
LINGARD, Trooper William (1845-1922) b. Ireland. Emigrated in 1863.
A trooper with the Kai-iwi Cavalry, he won the New Zealand Cross during an
encounter with a maori force at Tauranga-ika in December 1868. He was
later a farmer, and then an insurance salesman and land agent in
Wellington, serving on the Wellington City Council for three years
from 1896. A farmer, Insurance salesman and land agent in Wellington,
Wellington City Councillor from 1896-1899.
MACE, Francis Joseph (1837-1927) b. immigrant.
Mace joined the Volunteer Force in Taranaki at the outbreak of the wars,
and was awarded the New Zealand Cross in 1877 for gallantry at Kaitake
in March 1864, and at Kaitikara River in June 1863. Mace rose to the
rank of captain. Later farmed in the New Plymouth area.
McDONNELL, Thomas (1832-99) b. Philippines.
Rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and was awarded the New Zealand
Cross in 1886 for bravery at Paparatu in October 1863 and Putahi Pah in
January 1866. He took part in 40 engagements against the maori. He later
settled in Wanganui.
MAIR, Gilbert Mair (1843-1923) b. Bay of Islands.
Gilbert Mair joined the Waikato Regiment in 1865 when fighting began on
the East Coast. Over the following five years, he led Arawa troops
fighting on the side of the european, including the Arawa Flying Column
No 1. He won his New Zealand Cross for a forced march in pursuit of Te
Kooti in February 1870, when the prophet was attacking Ohinemutu.
Interpreter to the House of Representatives, a government agent, and
land purchase officer in several districts. His brother was magistrate
in the Waikato, and later a judge of the Native Land Court.
MALING, Christopher Louis (1843-1917) b. Nelson
A clever and courageous scout in the Corps of Guides during the campaign
against Te Kooti and Titokowaru, Maling won the New Zealand Cross for
bravery at Taurangaika in February 1869. There were nine members in the
Corps of Guides, three were killed and four wounded during the campaign.
Maling rose to the rank of major, later worked in Japan and settled in
England, where he died.
NORTHCROFT, Henry William (1844-1923)
Won the New Zealand Cross for action at Pungarehu in October 1866 and
Tirotiro Moana in November the same year. He joined the Taranaki
Volunteers on the outbreak of the maori New Zealand Wars in 1860, and
served for 16 years, taking part in 49 actions, mostly as an ensign.
Became magistrate in the Waikato, warden and magistrate on the Thames
goldfields and stipendiary magistrate in Auckland.
PREECE, George Augustus (1845-1925)
Won the New Zealand Cross for valour when serving with Major Ropata at
Ngatapa in January 1869, during the campaign against Te Kooti and the
Hauhaus. b.Coromandel. During the New Zealand Wars and the campaign
against Te Kooti, he rose to the rank of captain in the Armed
Constabulary, commanded the native contingent in the Urewera from
1870 to 1872 and was mentioned in dispatches three times. He was later
a magistrate in Napier and Christchurch, and went into business in
Palmerston North in 1892. He tried to enlist for World War One when
in his seventies.
ROBERTS, John Mackintosh (1840-1928) b. Bombay. Emigrated in 1855
Joined the armed forces in 1863, at the outbreak of the war over the
Waikato lands, because the buildings on the family farm were all burnt
down. He won the New Zealand Cross in November 1868 for action at
Moturoa Pa. Roberts earned a reputation as an outstanding scout and
bush fighter with von Tempsky's Forest Rangers, and was dubbed
'Deerfoot' by von Tempsky in his diary. He later commanded the Armed
Constabulary in Auckland, and served as a magistrate in the Wairarapa,
Tauranga and Opotiki.
SHEPHERD, Richard (1837-1913) b. immigrant.
Joined the Armed Constabulary in NZ, where he won the New Zealand Cross
for bravery at Otautu in March 1869, holding a difficult observation
post under heavy fire. He was seriously wounded. He later lived near
Auckland.
SMITH, Angus (1832-1902) b. Scotland
He won the New Zealand Cross for action against Te Kooti in the Bay of
Plenty Cavalry, on 7 June 1869.
WAHAWAHA, Ropata (1807-97)
A skilful, ruthless major in the Native Contingent in the campaign against
the Hauhau, winning the New Zealand Cross for action against Te Kooti at
Ngatapa in January 1869, and later being awarded a Sword of Honour by
Queen Victoria for his services. For some years he had been a slave of
Rapata Whakapuhia, which may account for his ruthless dealings with
his former captor's people. He later became a government agent among
the Ngati Porou, was given a pension and made a life member of the
Legislative Council.
WALKER, Samuel (1842-80) b.Dublin
Qualified as a doctor, he joined the Armed Constabulary as a surgeon,
served for eight years in 34 engagements against maori, and won the
New Zealand Cross for bravery in attending the wounded under fire at
Otautu in March 1869.
WRIGG, Harry Charles William (1842-1924) b. Ireland. Emigrated in 1863.
Wrigg won the New Zealand Cross for gallantry in June 1867 at Opotiki,
as a member of the Bay of Plenty Cavalry Volunteers. Civil engineer and
artist, later chief draughtsman in Auckland, and to the Public Works
Department.
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In July 1881 the second maori King, Te Wherowhero, accompanied by 600
warriors, came down from his base on the southern slopes of Pirongia
mountain, Waikato and laid his gun down at the feet of the government agent
and resident magistrate, Major Gilbert Mair, a gesture of peace which
effectively ended the New Zealand Wars.
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EXTERNAL CHARACTERS:
CAMERON, Sir Duncan Alexander (1808-88) a British professional soldier,
he came to NZ in 1861 as a Major-General to command the Imperial forces
against the Maori in the New Zealand Wars. He fought in the Waikato and
Taranaki, but later came to disapprove of the war which he believed was
being deliberately waged for the benefit of land-hungry settlers.
Consequently, in 1865, he resigned and returned to England. From 1868
to 1875 he was governor of Sandhurst College.
CHUTE, General Sir Trevor (1816-86)
Chute succeeded Sir Duncan Cameron as the commander of the British
Imperial forces in NZ at the end of 1865. He intervened with a swift
and efficient campaign in the war between maori and settler in Taranaki
and Wanganui, marching his men 260 miles in six weeks, losing nine
killed and 26 wounded, capturing seven fortified pas and 20 villages,
and demonstrating that the troops could follow maori into the bush.
Chute came to believe, as Cameron had before him, that the colonists in
demanding the continuance of war were motiviated by land greed, and
accordingly he became involved in disputes between the British
government and the colonial authorities on the control of local militia
and regular troops. He moved to Melbourne from where he retained command
of the regular troops in NZ until they were withdrawn in 1869.
GORDON, Arthur Charles Hamilton (1829-1912), was the 11th Governor of NZ,
from November 1880 to June 1882.
Gordon believed that the maori leader, Te Whiti, was in the right and the
NZ government wrong in the conflict over land surrounding Parihaka.
While away on a visit to Fiji, the government legislated moves against
Te Whiti, and Gordon reluctantly accepted the decision. The House of
Representatives, strongly in favour of the legislation, was re-elected
a month later.
HADFIELD, Octavius (1814-1904) b. Isle of Wight
Ordained at Paihia (January 1839), Bishop of Wellington (1870) and
Anglican Primate of NZ (1890).
Hadfield was unpopular among the european settlers in the North Island
when he insisted that the government was in error in the Waitara dispute
over maori land. He, Bishop Selwyn and a few others publicly defended
Wiremu Kingi's claim to the disputed land. He pressed for a
re-examination of the Waitara Purchase and for the recall of Governor
Gore Browne. The settlers despised him for this. Hadfield understood
the cause of the New Zealand Wars in Taranaki, but persuaded most of
the maori at Waikanae and Otaki not to join the maori at war in Taranaki
and Waikato. He was called before the Bar of the House of Representatives
in 1860 for four hours of examination to justify his stand on native
policy. History has shown him to be right and the government wrong.
SWAINSON, William (1809-84) b. England.
First Attorney-General, member of the Executive Council and Legislative
Council.
Swainson was involved with Martin and Governor Grey in drawing up the
proposals which formed the basis of the Constitution Act of 1852. His
ordinances were important in the early establishment of the law, courts
and government in this country. He tried for some years to hold up
self-government because he did not want to see the maori at the mercy
of land-grabbing colonists.
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ENEMY FORCES:
TITOKOWARU (d. 1888) a maori leader, and member of the Ngati Ruahine
tribe of south Taranaki. Titokowaru was reputed to have lost his right
eye fighting in a Hauhau war party in 1864. In 1868, he inflicted heavy
defeats on government forces at his pa, Te Ngutu o te Manu, deep in the
forest near Hawera; and at Moturoa. The Prussian mercenary and guerilla
fighter, von Tempsky, was killed during the attack on Titokowaru's pa.
In his later years, Titokowaru was associated with the pacifist, Te Whiti,
often leading demonstrations of passive resistance.
TE KOOTI, Rikirangi Te Turuki (c. 1830-93) maori leader, and founder of
the Ringatu Church.
Te Kooti supported the european at the siege of Waerenga-a-hika in 1865,
but immediately after was accused of supplying Hauhau rebels with
ammunition during the engagement, and advising them on the disposition
of the colonial troops. He was never brought to trial on these charges,
but many Gisborne people, considered him a trouble-maker. He was arrested
in 1866 and sent with a group of Hauhau prisoners to the Chatham Islands.
While waiting to be exiled, Te Kooti made many demands to be given a fair
trial. He was told that they would not be held at the Chathams for more
than three years. During his two years on the Chathams, Te Kooti studied
the Old Testament, he claimed that he had had a revelation and
established the tenets of his Ringatu faith.
By the middle of 1868 he and the other prisoners, were convinced the
government had no intention of releasing them. They captured the ship,
Rifleman, and forced the crew to carry them to the east coast of the
North Island.
Te Kooti was pursued by army and police forces, and wrote to the
government asking to be left alone. After a large force, commanded by
Colonel Whitmore, fought against Te Kooti in the Ruakituri Gorge, he
demonstrated that he was not a man to be trifled with. In November
1868 he attacked Matawhero, killing 33 Europeans and 37 friendly maori.
Closely pursued by troops, he took up a position on Ngatapa Hill.
Whitmore attacked and, after a three-day siege, drove him out into the
Urewera Bush. Accompanying Whitmore was Ropata Wahawaha, who executed
120 Te Kooti followers taken prisoner at Ngatapa. Te Kooti was harrassed
and pursued by government forces and colonials, for three years
accompanied by friendly maori. He mostly eluded his pursuers, but when
forced to fight, did so with brilliance and panache.
In 1872 he sought refuge in the King Country near Te Kuiti, where he lived
under the protection of King Tawhiao, and consolidated and propagated the
Ringatu religion. He persistently claimed that, if he was left alone,
he would live in peace and this is exactly what he did in the King
Country. In 1883 he was pardoned. But in 1889, when he planned a visit
to Gisborne, settler hostility, and maori antagonism were sufficient
to make him desist.
Te Kooti was linked with the fanatical Hauhau sect, because he adopted
the upraised hand symbol, not as in the case of the Hauhaus as a means
of protection from bullets, but as an act of homage to God. It was easy
to transfer the Hauhau image to Te Kooti, because he was so insanely
feared and hated during his rampage through the North Island.
TUAIA, Rawiri. (of Ngai-Te-Rangi [tribe])
The Battle of GATE PA ('Pukehinahina', Tauranga)
A battle took place between the Ngai-te-Rangi, under Rawiri Tuaia, and
British troops under General Cameron (29 April 1864). Notable for the
heaviest shelling of a pa by British troops during the New Zealand Wars,
Cameron's guns began firing at daybreak on 29 April and by late afternoon
had made a breach in the defences. A strong attack by the British
soldiers was repulsed with heavy losses. During the night the maori,
carrying their wounded, slipped in small parties through the British
lines to safety. The British lost 111 killed and an unknown number of
wounded. It was called Gate Pa because the maori defence position was
at a gate in a boundary fence between european and native land.
MANIAPOTO, Rewi Manga (c. 1815-94) (Ngati Maniapoto [tribe] war chief
of high rank)The Battle at ORAKAU PA
At the Orakau Pa battle 1500 British and colonial soldiers, including
cavalry and artillery units, attacked 300 maori led by Rewi Maniapoto
between 31 March and 2 April 1864. Rewi held up General Cameron's forces
at Pukekawa Hill, near Meremere, for three months until he fell back to
Orakau. As well as Ngati Maniapoto, some Waikato and 140 Tuhoe were
involved in the defence of the pa.
After two and a half days of relentless artillery fire and many assaults
on the stockade, the maori defenders were still holding out, though
short of ammunition and water. Sir Duncan Cameron, the British commander,
was so impressed by their courage, that he called a truce and offered
them the chance to surrender. It was then that Rewi is said to have
made his now legendary reply: 'Kaore e mau te rongo, ake, ake!',
'We will never surrender, never!'
Cameron's intermediary, William Mair, asked that the women and children
be allowed out of the pa, but before Rewi could reply a woman, Ahumai
Te Paerata, stood up and shouted 'Ki te mate nga tane, me mate ano
nga wahine me nga tamariki', 'If the men die, the women and children
will die also.'
By this time, Cameron's troops had dug a sap so close to the pa's
earthworks that they could pound away with artillery from point-blank
range and, as they began to effect an entry into the pa, the defenders
fled. Many of them were cut down by cavalry. Rewi escaped but of the
300 defenders, 150 were killed, many more were wounded, and 33 prisoners
were taken. British casualties were 15 dead and 54 wounded.
Rewi's defiant cry came to symbolise the courage and chivalry of the
maori warriors during the wars with the european. He was born about 1815
and died near Orakau in 1894.
HEKE POKAI, Hone (c. 1810-1850) (Nga Puhi [tribe] chief) Although greatly
outnumbered, out-fought the British sent to stop them, and their
rebellion was, in the end, only crushed by subterfuge.
Heke and his fellow Ngapuhi resented the withdrawal of the seat of
colonial government from Kororareka to Auckland. This resulted in an
economic decline in the north. Heke focused his annoyance on the symbol
of the British presence in NZ - the Union Jack. On 8 July 1844, he led
a war party to the flag and the Ngati-Kawa chief, Haratua, cut down the
flagpole. Heke claimed that the flagstaff was his property because it
had been cut from the forest of his people. Troops were sent to the
Bay of Islands but for several months there was no further trouble.
Twice in January 1845 Heke led a party to cut down the new flagpole.
It was re-erected, a blockhouse built and garrisoned with soldiers
and sailors from the Hazard and œ100 was offered as a reward for
Heke's capture. Two months later he attacked the blockhouse, ejected
the garrison and the whole town of Kororareka was emptied in a panic.
Heke and Kawiti built a pa at Okaihau, expecting a retaliatory strike.
In May about 800 fighting men, half of them troops and sailors and half
friendly Maori, arrived and attacked the pa. They failed. Then Heke
charged out of the pa and attacked the friendlies. He was wounded and
retired to establish himself at Ohaeawai.
By the middle of June, 630 professional British soldiers and marines
with artillery assembled at Waimate, together with a strong force of
friendly Maori. They attacked Heke's pa with its 250 men, all armed
with guns, on 24 June. By 3 July Heke was still holding out and had,
in fact, made one rapid sortie against the Maori fighting with the
British, had captured a Union Jack. On 3 July, Heke announced a
truce to enable the British to carry off their dead (44) and
wounded (66). On 10 July, it was found Heke had evacuated the pa.
George Grey immediately went north to control the Heke rebellion. The
Maori leader had gone back to his pa to plant crops to ensure he would
be well supplied during the following winter. He was held in his pa by
a feint attack, while the British forces with nine big guns were
marshalled before Kawiti's pa at Ruapekapeka. The British force
consisted of 1173 soldiers and sailors and 450 Maori allies. On 2
January 1846 Kawiti attacked from the pa but was driven back and on
10 January the artillery made two small breaches in the palisade.
The 11th of January was a Sunday; Kawiti retired to the back of
the pa to rest and Heke's were holding a religious service; British
scouts quietly took possession of the pa with minimal resistance.
This ruse consequently diminished his mana, and he remained an
intractable dissident, but made no further attempt at revolt.
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15 July 1997
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