Last updated:
Saturday, 30 November 2013
NEW ZEALAND BRAVERY AWARDS
The Queen has been pleased to approve the following New Zealand Bravery Awards:
THE NEW ZEALAND BRAVERY DECORATION
NZBD
Georgina Rose LANGFORD
Citation
On the night of 21 April 2011 Ms Georgina Langford, aged 21, was at home at an isolated rural address near Nelson, with her mother and bedridden stepfather.
A family member arrived, pursued by his father who was suffering from paranoia and who intended to kill his son. The father then arrived at the house with a 12 gauge Remington 812 shotgun, in a highly agitated and emotional state. Ms Langford and her mother met him at the front door, where he demanded to know where his son was. They knew he was unstable and had already assaulted his son. Ms Langford’s mother attempted to make him leave by pushing him and the shotgun away, but he brushed her aside. Ms Langford then attempted to push him and the shotgun out of the house, but he also pushed her aside and shot his son in the chest at almost point-blank range. Despite the immediate risk to herself, Ms Langford then grabbed the barrel of the gun with both hands, and tried to pull it from the man. Her mother told her to let the gun go, which she did, and the man left the house. Ms Langford then called for emergency services. While she was doing this, the man returned to the house with the gun, and took the phone from her. She then went into an adjoining room, where her stepfather was bedridden with Multiple Sclerosis. He told her to leave the house, and she went outside and hid in bushes until the armed man left the property.
Michael Thomas WARDLE
Constable, New Zealand Police
Citation
On 13 July 2010, during the course of an arrest at a private property, an armed offender opened a bedroom door and shot a Police officer in the face, and also shot and fatally wounded Police dog Gage. A constable dragged the wounded officer by his belt down the hallway and out of immediate danger. At the same time, the offender came to his bedroom doorway and shot another officer, who was running to escape through a bathroom window.
The offender then aimed his rifle directly at Constable Wardle (now Sergeant), and started to walk towards him. Constable Wardle fired his taser at the offender who attempted to shoot him, but his rifle jammed. The Police officers retreated outside. The offender followed them, and again aimed his rifle at Constable Wardle, who stood his ground and maintained a position between him and the other officers.
NEW ZEALAND BRAVERY AWARDS
The Governor-General, under authority delegated by The Queen, has been pleased to approve the following New Zealand Bravery Awards:
THE NEW ZEALAND BRAVERY MEDAL
NZBM
Mark John ALLEN
Kenneth William REILLY
Citation
At 6.30 am on 2 May 2011 Mr Ken Reilly and Mr Mark Allen stopped to help the victims of a head-on collision between two cars on State Highway One in North Canterbury. One of the vehicles had caught fire, and the driver had lost consciousness and was trapped inside by her leg. Her ankles were fractured and her clothing had caught fire.
Mr Allen and Mr Reilly used fire extinguishers to put out the fire on her clothing, but were unable to put out the larger fire in the vehicle. As the driver’s door could not be opened, they both climbed into the burning car. It was very difficult to free the driver as her leg was firmly trapped, and they were inhaling thick smoke. They persisted and, once they had her leg free, they were able to pull her from the burning car through the front passenger door. The front section of the vehicle was shortly afterwards engulfed in flames.
Jan Margaret BOYD
Citation
On the night of 21 April 2011 Mrs Jan Boyd was at home at an isolated rural address near Nelson, with her daughter and bedridden husband.
A family member arrived, pursued by his father who was suffering from paranoia and who intended to kill his son. The father then arrived at the house with a 12 gauge Remington 812 shotgun, in a highly agitated and emotional state. Mrs Boyd and her daughter met him at the front door, where he demanded to know where his son was. Mrs Boyd knew he was unstable and had already assaulted his son. She attempted to make him leave by pushing him and the shotgun away with her bare hands, but he brushed her aside and shot his son in the chest at almost point-blank range. Rather than escaping, Mrs Boyd remained in the house, using her nursing skills to tend the injured man until emergency services arrived.
John BOYD
Citation
On the night of 21 April 2011 Mr John Boyd was at home at an isolated rural address near Nelson, with his wife and stepdaughter. Mr Boyd was bedridden with Multiple Sclerosis.
A family member arrived, pursued by his father who was suffering from paranoia and who intended to kill his son. The father then arrived at the house with a 12 gauge Remington 812 shotgun, in a highly agitated and emotional state. Mr Boyd’s wife and stepdaughter attempted to stop him, but he entered the house and shot his son in the chest at almost point-blank range. Mr Boyd’s stepdaughter came into his bedroom and he told her to leave the house. Mr Boyd rang emergency services and was confronted by the armed man who told him to put the phone down. He did so, but left the line open, hoping the operator would hear what was happening. The man shouted wildly at Mr Boyd and threatened to shoot himself as well as his son. Disregarding his vulnerable position and his personal safety, Mr Boyd tried to keep the man focused on him, to give his wife and stepdaughter time to escape.
Gregory Edward Ross CATER
Detective Constable, New Zealand Police
James Phillip COLLINS
Constable, New Zealand Police
Edward Michael LUXFORD
Detective Constable, New Zealand Police
Johan Artemus MULDER
Constable, New Zealand Police
Liam PHAM
Constable, New Zealand Police
Christopher Charles TURNBULL
Sergeant, New Zealand Police
Andrew Stephen WARNE
Constable, New Zealand Police
Citation
Shortly before 4.00am on 22 December 2009, a Police constable was shot four times, suffering life-threatening injuries, at a residence in Papatoetoe. He collapsed in the yard of the property, which was at the end of a long, shared driveway.
An immediate action team was formed of experienced Police officers, led by Sergeant Turnbull, and including Detective Constable Cater (now Detective), Constable Collins, Detective Constable Luxford, Constable Mulder, Constable Pham and Constable Warne.
The immediate action team made a rapid approach in two vehicles, positioning the vehicles for cover. The first vehicle contained the team that provided cover, comprising Detective Constable Cater, Constable Mulder, and Sergeant Turnbull. The rescue team, consisting of Constable Collins, Detective Constable Luxford, Constable Pham and Constable Warne, was in the second vehicle.
The teams advanced up the driveway on foot, and found the wounded officer. He was seriously injured, including a fractured leg and significant blood loss. Clearly he needed to be evacuated quickly.
Constable Collins, Detective Constable Luxford, Constable Pham and Constable Warne carried him while Detective Constable Cater, Constable Mulder, and Sergeant Turnbull stayed in the property to cover their withdrawal. The wounded officer was carried to one of the patrol cars used in the approach, a distance of about 103 metres, and then driven at speed to the ambulance waiting on the street.
The immediate action team then blocked the driveway with a patrol car and took up observation positions as the gunman had not yet been located. The officers held these positions until relieved by a Crime Squad.
Throughout this operation, the location and number of offenders were unknown. The officers could have waited for the Armed Offenders Squad to arrive, but instead chose to put themselves at risk to rescue their colleague.
Martin Joseph KAY
Colin John WIGGINS
Citation
On 16 October 2010 a car and light truck crashed near Hastings. Both erupted into flames, sending a thick plume of black smoke into the air. The truck tipped onto its side in the road, with its 75-year old male driver trapped inside. The car was thrown into a ditch, with its 17-year old male driver trapped inside.
Passing motorists Mr Martin Kay and Mr Colin Wiggins dragged the driver of the car free and to a safe spot away from the burning vehicles. They then ran to the truck, but could not see the driver as the cab was full of smoke. Mr Kay attempted to smash the windscreen of the truck with a hammer, but was blown back by a gust of smoke. Mr Wiggins completed smashing out the windscreen, and felt around in the cab to locate the driver. He dragged the driver from the cab, assisted by Mr Kay, before the truck was completely engulfed in flames. The heat and intensity of the fire set the road’s tar seal on fire.
Mr Wiggins and Mr Kay risked their own safety to pull the drivers from their burning vehicles, saving both their lives.
Lois Patricia KENNEDY
Citation
Early in the morning of 21 January 2011, at a retirement complex in Christchurch, Mrs Lois Kennedy, who was 81 years, heard her neighbour calling for help. Mrs Kennedy knew that her neighbour’s middle-aged son was staying with his mother, and that his mental health had been deteriorating to the point that Mrs Kennedy was afraid of him.
Mrs Kennedy armed herself with a hearth brush and went outside to assist, without her walking frame, which she usually uses. It was dark and she has impaired vision. She approached what she viewed as a “bundle” in the garden by following the cries for help and feeling ahead of her. She came into contact with the man crouched over his mother and attacking her with a blunt samurai sword. Responding to the feel of a blade, Mrs Kennedy swung her hearth brush towards the sound of the man’s voice, connecting several times. He kicked at her as he continued to hold his mother down. Mrs Kennedy realised she could not physically stop him and returned to her unit to telephone the Police. In the attack her neighbour suffered bites to her arms, hands and head, bruising and cuts from the sword, while Mrs Kennedy sustained an injury to her left hand.
Jade Ronald LYNN
Citation
On 15 March 2012 Mr Jade Lynn, a construction worker, was on his way to work in Christchurch, when he saw a man standing in the middle of the road, waving two large knives and threatening members of the public. The man was trying to get into cars, and attempted to stab a cyclist. He had already kidnapped two people, and had stabbed them both. Mr Lynn saw blood on the knives and realised that the man was a serious threat.
Mr Lynn got out of his truck and approached him, unarmed. He tried to reason with the man, who threatened to kill him and swung at him with one of the knives. He started to walk towards Mr Lynn, who feared for his life. Mr Lynn took a long steel pinch bar from his truck and confronted him, in an effort to protect other members of the public. Twice the man walked towards Mr Lynn in a threatening manner, and once Mr Lynn pushed him back with the pinch bar. Mr Lynn was shouting at passers-by to stay away and lock their doors, while he continued to engage the man’s attention and distract him from other members of the public until Police arrived.
Dated this 2nd day of December 2013
REBECCA KITTERIDGE, Clerk of the Executive Council.