willie Apiata born 28 June 1972 in Mangakino, New Zealand) is a former corporal in the New Zealand Special Air Service who became the first recipient of the Victoria Cross for New Zealand. He received the award on 2 July 2007 for bravery under fire during the Afghanistan conflict in 2004, after carrying a gravely wounded comrade across a battlefield, under fire, to safety. Jerry mateparae born 14 November 1954 is New Zealand's 20th and Niue's 9th Governor-General. He was Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force between 2006 and 2011, the second Māori person to hold the office