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Graphic: An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand 1966.

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This information was published in 1966 in An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock. It has not been corrected and will not be updated.

Up-to-date information can be found elsewhere in Te Ara.

NEW ZEALAND CROSS

Contents


List of Recipients

In the ensuing list, recipients are listed in the order in which they appear in the Roll of the New Zealand Cross, and details are recorded in the following order: Rank; Christian and surnames; Unit; Date(s) of the act(s); place(s); and New Zealand Gazette announcement of the award.

  1. Constable Henare Kepa Te Ahururu; 1st Div., Armed Constabulary; 7 November 1868; Moturoa; No. 16 of 25 March 1869. He later deserted, but was living at Ruatoki in 1878. Date of death not known.

  2. Constable Solomon Black; 1st Div., Armed Constabulary; 8 January 1869; Ngatapa; No. 16 of 25 March 1869. When last heard of he was living in a Glasgow workhouse in 1910 and was then 77 years old.

  3. Constable Benjamin Biddle; 1st Div., Armed Constabulary; 8 January 1869; Ngatapa; No. 16 of 25 March 1869. He was the last survivor of the recipients of the N.Z. Cross, and died at Whakatane on 10 March 1933, aged 85 years.

  4. Trooper William Lingard; Kai Iwi Cavalry Volunteers; 28 December 1868; Tauranga-ika; No. 31 of 3 June 1869. Died at Wellington in 1922, aged 77 years.

  5. Sergeant George (Rowley) Hill; 1st Div., Armed Constabulary; 10 April 1869; Jerusalem Pa; No. 34 of 26 June 1869. He also fought in the Baltic, Crimea, and Indian Mutiny and was awarded two medals by the Royal Humane Society for saving life, one in 1860 and the other in 1896. Tried unsuccessfully to enlist for the South African War at the age of 63. Died in Auckland on 15th February 1930, aged 93 years.

  6. Cornet Angus Smith; Bay of Plenty Cavalry Volunteers; 7 June 1869; Opepe; No. 63 of 6 November 1869. Later promoted a captain, he also fought in the Crimea War. Died at Opotiki on 3 April 1902, aged 70 years.

  7. Sergeant Arthur Wakefield Carkeek; Armed Constabulary; 8 February 1870; Ohinemutu; No. 36 of 7 July 1870. Died at Otaki on 24 May 1897, aged 54 years.

  8. Dr Isaac Earl Featherston; Staff, Native Contingent; 14 January 1866; Otapawa Pa; No. 60 of 28 October 1875. Was a Member of Parliament, 1853–70, and was four times elected Superintendent of Wellington. Appointed Agent-General for New Zealand in London in 1870, where he died on 21 June 1876, aged 63 years.

  9. Inspector John Mackintosh Roberts; Armed Constabulary; 7 November 1868; Moturoa; No. 27 of 11 May 1876. Appointed the first Officer Commanding the Permanent Militia, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, when that body was formed in 1887 after the disbandment of the Armed Constabulary. Died at Wanganui on 12 October 1928, aged 88 years.

  10. Major Keepa Te Rangihiwinui (Kemp); N.Z. Militia (Native Contingent); 7 November 1868, Moturoa; and 13 March 1869, Otauto; No. 27 of 11 May 1876. Commanded the Wanganui Native Contingent and received a Sword of Honour from Queen Victoria for his services. Died at Wanganui on 15 April 1898, aged 75 years.

  11. Major Ropata Wahawaha; (q.v.) Native Contingent; 5 January 1869; Ngatapa; No. 27 of 11 May 1876. A warrior of renown prior to the First Maori War, he led the Ngati-Porou Native Contingent from 1865 to 1871 and received a Sword of Honour from Queen Victoria for his services. He was a member of the Legislative Council from May 1887 until his death at Gisborne on 1 July 1897, aged 90 years.

  12. Captain Francis Joseph Mace; Taranaki Militia; 4 June 1863 at Kaitikara River, 11 March 1864 at Kaitake, and 20 October 1865 at Warea; No. 27 of 11 May 1876. Mentioned in dispatches eight times. Died at Oakura on 7 August 1927, aged 90 years.

  13. Sub-Inspector George Augustus Preece; Armed Constabulary; 5 January 1869; Ngatapa; No. 27 of 11 May 1876. Mentioned in dispatches three times and twice received the special thanks of the Government. Tried to enlist during the First World War in 1914 and again in 1918 when he was 73 years old. Died at Palmerston North on 10 July 1925, aged 80 years.

  14. Assistant-Surgeon Samuel Walker; Armed Constabulary; 13 March 1869; Otauto; No. 27 of 11 May 1876. Served in 34 engagements against the Maoris. Died at Taupo on 24 December 1880, aged 38 years.

  15. Sergeant Christopher Louis Maling; Corps of Guides; 26 February 1868; Tauranga-ika; No. 27 of 11 May 1876. Later rose to the rank of Major. His N.Z. Cross is in the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle. Died at England in February 1917, aged 74 years.

  16. Sergeant Richard Shepherd; Armed Constabulary; 13 March 1869; Otauto; No. 27 of 11 May 1876. Also served in the Crimean War and in Burma 1855–57. Died at Auckland on 2 November 1913, aged 76 years.

  17. Sergeant Samuel Austin; Wanganui Volunteer Contingent; 7 January 1866 at Putahi Pa, and 17 October 1866 at Keteonetea; No. 27 of 11 May 1876. Served in the Imperial forces in the First Maori War in 1846–47 and afterwards until 1859. Died at Wanganui on 25 January 1903, aged 74 years.

  18. Trooper Antonio Rodriquez de Sardinha; Taranaki Mounted Volunteers; 2 October 1863 at Poutoko, and 11 March 1864 at Kaitake; No. 27 of 11 May 1876. Twice mentioned in dispatches. Died at New Plymouth on 12 May 1905, aged 73 years.

  19. Private Thomas Adamson; Corps of Guides; 7 May 1869; Ahikereru; No. 27 of 11 May 1876. Took part in 25 engagements against the Maoris. Died at Wanganui on 29 December 1913, aged 67 years.

  20. Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas McDonnell; N.Z. Militia; October 1863 at Paparatu, and 7 January 1866 at Putahi Pa; No. 20 of 1 April 1886. Took part in 40 engagements against the Maoris, many times mentioned in dispatches, and wounded four times. Died at Wanganui on 8 November 1899, aged 67 years.

  21. Captain Gilbert Mair; N.Z. Militia; 7 February 1870; Rotorua; No. 20 of 1 April 1886. Commanded the Arawa Native Contingent and enjoyed the full rank and status of a chief of the Arawa. Later was native interpreter to the House of Representatives and a Magistrate of the Native Court. Died in the Bay of Plenty on 29 November 1923, aged 80 years.

  22. Cornet Harry Charles William Wrigg; Bay of Plenty Cavalry Volunteers; 29 June 1867; Opotiki; No. 18 of 18 March 1898. Died at Auckland on 30 June 1924, aged 82 years.

  23. Ensign Henry William Northcroft; Patea Rangers; 2 October 1866 at Pungarehu, and 5 November 1866 at Tirotiro Moana; No. 67 of 7 July 1910. Fought in 49 engagements against the Maoris. He was appointed Chief Justice and Resident Commissioner of the Cook Islands in 1912. Died in Auckland in December 1923, aged 79 years.

  • Order in Council, New Zealand Cross, 10 March 1869
  • The New Zealand Gazette (Various dates as quoted in text)
  • Army Records: File N.Z. Cross and Recipients' personal files
  • Roll of Recipients of the N.Z. Cross (Turnbull Library)
  • NZPD, Vol. XX, (L.C.) 13 Jul 1876 and 27 Jul 1876
  • Appendix to Journal of the House of Representatives H. 31 and H. 31A, 1898.

by Capt. Geoffrey Troughear Stagg, F.R.N.S.N.Z., R.N.Z.A. (retired), formerly President of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand, Wellington.