Honours: Questions fly over belated award

By Theresa Garner

Seven years ago, Jacinda Amey risked her life to tow a shark-mauled friend to safety in sub-Antarctic waters off remote Campbell Island.

The act of courage earned her the Charles Upham Award in 1993, and she has now been awarded the New Zealand Cross, the highest bravery award.

Now working as a Department of Conservation officer on Codfish Island, 4km off Stewart Island, she is reluctant to talk about her new award.

In April 24, 1992, Jacinda Amey, then a 23-year-old, was snorkelling with other members of a Meteorological Service team on Campbell Island, 600km south of Invercargill.

The team leader, Mike Fraser, was attacked by a white pointer shark that ripped off his right arm at the elbow.

As the other swimmers turned to shore, Jacinda Amey stayed transfixed in horror, watching her colleague punching the shark on the nose, battling it with the stump of his arm and his smashed left hand.

When it swam away, she towed her bleeding colleague 30m to shore, fully aware the shark was still nearby.

But the new award is being questioned by some, including Mike Fraser, the shark victim.

"It's just digging up old history. It's long gone and forgotten about," he said.

"They're new awards, so maybe they should have been for new occurrences.

"If they're dishing out the new award for history, maybe all the guys who got the Victoria Cross during World War Two will want to get the New Zealand Cross as well."

Mr Fraser was concerned that no emphasis was given to the other people involved in the rescue.

"I just owe so much to all of them, not just one of them. Yet the same person just keeps getting the kudos."

Even Jacinda Amey's parents were surprised at the award, and unsure how their daughter would react.

"Why would that happen now?" Yvonne Amey asked.

"It seems like quite a long time ago. We thought that was all over.

"She wasn't happy about the whole thing at the time of the Charles Upham award. There was pressure on her to acknowledge it and take part in it, and I think she felt she was part of a team effort."

The reluctant hero did not speak publicly about the rescue for more than a year afterwards, and then said it was a team effort to save Mr Fraser.

"It was quite fabulous, though horrific, to be part of it," she said in 1993.

"My decision to rescue Mike was an easy one.

"I'm very fortunate to have two wonderful parents who have always demonstrated they can't walk past people in need."