KEY POINTS:
Corporal Willie Apiata, New Zealand's only Victoria Cross (VC) winner in the past six decades, will be honoured at the Treaty House grounds at Waitangi on Saturday.
About 5000 people, including hundreds of school children, army representatives, local and visiting tribes and cultural performers, were expected at the ceremony where Ngapuhi elders would welcome him home.
Cpl Apiata, 35, was born in Mangakino in Waikato, but spent his early years in Northland and was affiliated to Ngapuhi through his father, Piripi Apiata. His home marae was Tukaki Marae in Te Kaha, in the eastern Bay of Plenty.
Cpl Apiata won the VC as a member of the Special Air Services (SAS) while he was deployed to Afghanistan.
In April 2004, the SAS patrol was in a defensive position for the night when it was attacked by about 20 enemy troops.
In the early stages of the attack, Cpl Apiata was blown off his feet and dazed but not injured when a rocket propelled grenade hit his vehicle.
One of the vehicle crew members was badly wounded by shrapnel and as the vehicle burned, enemy fire intensified.
His citation said that, in total disregard for his own safety, he stood up and lifted his wounded comrade.
"He then carried him across the 70m of broken, rocky and fire-swept ground, fully exposed in the glare of battle to heavy enemy fire and into the face of returning fire from the main troop position."
He re-armed himself and rejoined the fight.
His citation said the wounded comrade would probably have died from his wounds had not Cpl Apiata carried him to safety.
Cpl Apiata's VC was only the thirteenth awarded since the end of World War 2 and the only New Zealand award since 1946. He is the 22nd New Zealander to be awarded the VC.
- NZPA
