Jan 29, 2016 - Corporal Willie Apiata says he will not leave the military entirely and will remain with the Special Air Service (SAS) Reserve Forces. Keen to see the impact of Willie Apiata VC’s work, veteran journalist Sue Foley travelled with the war hero as he took his Values programmes to schools throughout the country. "I left, I had the highest award you could ever imagine that can be awarded to any serving person, and the day I walked out the gate I got nothing. Willie Apiata, VC, quits - and doesn't even get so much as a goodbye from the top brass. Mangakino, New Zealand. Where was Willie Apiata born? Despite their large classroom windows framing a picture-perfect snow-capped Mt Ruapehu, all eyes are to the front, centred on Apiata who, as a Westpac Ambassador, is introducing them to something very dear to his heart: his Values school project. Now the story behind how he was awarded it has been told in Willie Apiata VC, A Reluctant Hero, released today. It's what mates do for each other…" - Corporal Willie Apiata, VC “… you worry about your mates, not letting them down …” - The Town New Zealand Saved An Ordinary Bloke This study guide features the stories of New Zealanders who demonstrated extraordinary courage and selflessness under fire. Breaking in wild horses is therapy for Apiata, as he says you need to be calm to gain their trust. "The thing I was most scared of was my mate, and that's what this is about. Still Have Questions? Bill Henry "Willie" Apiata, VC (born 28 June 1972) is a former corporal in the New Zealand Special Air Service, who became the first recipient of the Victoria Cross for New Zealand. The Vikings, Spanish Armada, Alexander the Great, Hannibal and the Crusades had nothing on It will live with me until I die.". I have to be brave to hop back in front of that camera and talk to you, which I don't do, because I don't like it. Even for the incident that I was a part of, I will never forget that. It is possible the name you are searching has less than five occurrences per year. There could hardly be a worse advertisement for the New Zealand Defence Force right now. Corporal Willie Apiata became the first New Zealander since the Second World War to be awarded the Commonwealth's highest military award for his actions with the NZ SAS in Afghanistan. “Stand up.”. It traces its origins to the Second World War and the famous Long Range Desert Group that New Zealanders served with.. This is something he can clearly relate to and this clearly resonates with the young people he talks to. The values of respect, integrity and responsibility sit strongly on both shoulders. "Stand up." What does willie apiata do? One Kiwi did. No support from anybody.". It’s these qualities, which led him to perform one of New Zealand’s most heroic acts of bravery awarding him the honourable Victoria Cross of New Zealand. He is well aware that, like him, a number of the teenage boys in the room will not have fathers in their lives. Concerning Willie Apiata's VC citation, writer Nicky Hager says "The most obvious sign of the block on information was that the Victoria Cross citation did not even include the usual details of where and when the act of bravery occurred." At another school there is a 16-year-old who has a warm smile and a curious mind. Willie Apiata stands out as the only person who gained far more votes than would be expected if votes were randomised – he is therefore the winner of this poll in my mind. From his early life in small town East Coast New Zealand to his actions in the deserts of Afghanistan, this is his story in his words. Weird things about the name Apiata: The name spelled backwards is Ataipa. There's a saying that what happens in country stays in country, but Apiata says that's "the biggest myth I've ever heard". Apiata and partner Jen Martin have created Post Transition as an organisation to fill the void so many of our servicemen and women feel when they leave the NZDF. The war hero takes his Values programmes to schools throughout New Zealand. Willie’s focus with Westpac is in delivering his Youth Values Programme to senior students in schools throughout New Zealand. The 30 participants are all pupils of Ruapehu College in Ohakune. The photo is captioned: "IN ACTION: Willie Apiata in Afghanistan". Sit down for a cuppa with… Kevin Milne! This is his story. Willie Apiata, VC, quits - and doesn't even get so much as a goodbye from the top brass. There is no question it is not just on foreign battlefields that Willie Apiata VC is saving lives. Always intensely private, there are many stories Apiata will never share about his life in public, but in the classroom, he understands by sharing his own story verbally it opens up the active young minds in front of him to what can happen if you make the right choices, no matter what background you come from. How unique is the name Apiata? While Apiata automatically garners respect when he enters a room, you always know there will be one person who will push the boundaries and this time, unsurprisingly, it's one of the young lads who not so innocently asks "Have you ever used your gun?". "You don't need to shout, you don't need to raise your voice to be effective," Willie points out. "There are so many of our brothers and sisters that need all of us - not just me and Jen, but us all. Asked by Wiki User. For his Values project, Apiata has already visited numerous schools across the country and is looking forward to visiting many more in 2021. Willie Apiata, VC, is a terrific read for active duty and reserve soldiers for his example of overcoming (temporary) career setbacks, achieving goals and demonstrating true courage under fire. The command is firm, the voice calm but direct, and instantly about 30 teenagers stand to attention in a way that probably surprises even them. Based on the references provided, I have included 18 June 2004 in the date column for Willie Apiata. In his instalment this week, Willie Apiata VC is encouraging veterans to check on your mates and encourage them to check their eligibility with Veterans' Affairs. to do. He says his family gave him the stability he needed to get through, and now with his partner they're hoping to help others. Bill Henry ‘Willie’ Apiata, VC, is a former corporal in the New Zealand Special Air Service. Two, even the army is publishing photos that shows what he looks like. Think of your actions, the impact they will have, and does this fit in with your value of showing respect? Willie Apiata is a quintessential Kiwi - hardworking, humble and honest. "[It] takes our men and women from the battlefield and into business and being purposeful people in the civilian population again.". This might be his most courageous role yet. Be the first to answer! Apiata holds three areas very close when thinking about his own values. Open Letter from John Minto to Willie Apiata: Mo: 1/31/10 3:51 PM: ... country and we sent them to the other side of the globe to do it. Apiata then covers off his other two remaining values: the institution of being a VC holder and thirdly, the institution of the New Zealand Defence SAS. He received the award on 2 July 2007 for bravery under fire during the War in Afghanistan in 2004, in which he carried a gravely wounded comrade across a battlefield, under fire, to safety. Willie Apiata has moved on from his job helping at-risk youth – and is now being handled by Richie McCaw‘s management team. "It was the scariest thing I've ever been a part of in my life," Apiata says. "I was on my own. It says something about the pulling power of Willie Apiata VC that the launch of Post Transition at the Auckland War Memorial attracted so much interest on Thursday. See Reluctant hero - a documentary about Willie Apiata (NZ On Screen): New Zealand’s only living Victoria Cross recipient had left the Defence Force to take up a role at Papakura’s High Wire Charitable Trust. Fact is, one, it was known that the SAS was there, presumably with its most decorated member. “I just did what I was trained to do. This book will not only establish the place of Corporal. The New Zealand Special Air Service, abbreviated as 1 NZSAS Regt, was formed on 7 July 1955 and is the special forces unit of the New Zealand Army, closely modelled on the British Special Air Service (SAS). Open Letter from John Minto to Willie Apiata Showing 1-47 of 47 messages. He earned the award for rescuing a wounded comrade under fire in Afghanistan in 2004. In 2010 Kevin Milne was named on the list of ‘Most Trusted New Zealanders’, second only to Willie Apiata – little surprise really, given that Kev was the man Kiwis turned to in their moment of need. So how big a problem is PTSD and mental health for servicemen and women in New Zealand? In a very calm tone Apiata looks directly at the young lad and says: "Respectfully, you don't ask that question". Answer. Apiata asks him what he wants to do and, without hesitation, the teenager replies: "A paramedic in the army". The aim is to reach as many young people as he can, over time, particularly those showing promise but at risk of going in the wrong direction. New Zealand's only living Victoria Cross recipient had left the Defence Force to take up a role at Papakura's High Wire Charitable Trust. He is the first, and so far only, recipient of the Victoria Cross for New Zealand - which was instituted in 1999 to replace the British Victoria Cross. His grandfather was involved with forestry, native timber mills and farming/fencing while his grandma and siblings worked in the market gardens. Bill (Willie) Apiata VC is the first, and so far only, recipient of the Victoria Cross for New Zealand, which was instituted in 1999 to replace the British Victoria Cross. After the battle in which Willie Apiata earned his Victoria Cross, Kiwi soldiers rolled into a nearby Afghan village with dead Taliban soldiers tied to the front of their trucks, it has been claimed. I'm sure CIA agents have done some pretty bad arse things, and all they get is a star on the wall. Yes, the Army's poster boy just walked on out - like over 900 other servicemen and women have in the past two years. When even the HR manager is made redundant, Transtasman test: Crusaders cling on in final seconds after Brumbies barrage, Would you pay more than $12,000 for a plant? Find More Answers. It The command is firm, the voice calm but direct, and instantly about 30 teenagers stand to … Among the things he's going into battle for now is better welfare and care for former NZDF personnel, particularly around the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They may have never moved so fast before in their lives, but then it's probably the first time they've been issued such a command by one of Aotearoa's genuine heroes - Willie Apiata VC. January 27th, 2010 Willie Apiata has moved on from his job helping at-risk youth - and is now being handled by Richie McCaw's management team. "You can't unsee what you see," he told Newshub. "The tragedy, things torn in front of you, the horrors. Keen to see the impact of Willie Apiata VC’s work, Sue Foley travelled with the war hero as he took his Values programmes to schools throughout the country. Fun Facts about the name Apiata. The subject of tone is something Apiata feels particularly strongly about and as the father of four boys is also highly experienced at putting to use. "Nothing ever stays there, it always comes home, and it comes home in here.". New Zealand's … "I've lived it, I've experienced it and something needs to change," he said. I guess this gives us some kind of notoriety. Willie Apiata: a lesson in class. If you make a choice, what impact is that going to have on those close to you? Culture in New Zealand HEROES Willie Apiata Sir Edmund Hillary Kate Sheppard Jonah Lomu Valerie Adams By the end of this unit we will: understand what a hero is; recognise the heroes in our lives; recognise some heroes we have in NZ; see the hero we can be to others He talks to them openly about the need to think carefully about the choices we make in life and why it's so important to set your values around what matters most to you. Apiata may be a hero to all of us but there is no question his hero is his mum, although seeing them together the pride seems equal. As he hands around his medals and Victoria Cross, he is optimistic that when the students hear the challenges he has overcome, at least some of these teenagers will see themselves in him and it will make them think of who they too could become. But I'm putting myself out here and my family, because this is so important. This week's photo doesn't add any danger; but it does have news value as an image of our troops at war. Even if you assume people are familiar with 4 rather than 3 names you get a similar result. We never leave anyone behind, we've got to go back and help them more, in one way or another.". Post Transition is an organisation Apiata and partner Jen Martin have created to fill the void so many of our servicemen and women feel when they leave the NZDF. Once named New Zealand's most trusted and honoured for valour, he's never been comfortable in the limelight. The teacher whispers quietly to me: "This is a boy who could easily go down the wrong track but I think just listening to Willie, this could just be the moment that boy breaks two generations of being on a benefit and gains employment.". It's a question he leaves hanging in the air for the pupils to think more deeply about. The most prestigious military medal was pinned on Cpl Apiata's chest by Governor General Anand Satyanand at a ceremony on July 26, 2007. There could hardly be a worse advertisement for the New Zealand Defence Force right now. Willie Apiata has moved on from his job helping at-risk youth - and is now being handled by Richie McCaw's management team. "If you keep a calm but strong tone people hear you, if you shout all they hear is noise and ironically, it will have less impact.". In a launch video, Apiata talked openly about his service, and most tellingly, what happened next. Although Apiata is now out of the army, he remains a member of the Special Air Service reserve force and can theoretically be recalled to operations. "We've made a very conscious decision with this process that actually, the way that we can get some healing and share the story of bravery is to go out and use the platform to help other people feel like they are not on their own," Ms Martin says. Among the things Apiata is fighting for now is better welfare and care for former NZDF personnel, particularly around the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He earned the award for rescuing a wounded comrade while under enemy fire in Afghanistan in 2004. Willie Apiata VC has dedicated his post-army life to honouring the service of others. Apiata's story serves as an example for everyone who faces … It turns out that neither his father or grandfather has ever held a paid job. Showing Apiata is just like showing that soldier wearing pink boxers. New Zealand's only living recipient of the Victoria Cross, Corporal Willie Apiata, says his decision to leave the military was not taken lightly. A recent report in the UK found 50 serving or former military personnel took their own lives in 2012, more than the number killed in action in Afghanistan. ", Copyright © 2021 Discovery New Zealand - All Rights Reserved, By subscribing you agree to our Terms of Access and Privacy Policy. If you have served in the NZ Defence Force and deployed overseas you may be eligible for support from us — now or in the future. Apiata and Ms Martin anecdotally say it's huge, but it's hard to be accurate because there is no measure. This content can be shared and edited for the purpose of promoting New Zealand as a visitor destination. First, family. Later the young boy comes up and apologises, which Apiata really appreciates and points out as an example of what he wants those present to take away from the session. Yes, the Army's poster boy just walked on out - like over 900 other servicemen and women have in … Her mum is buried there and Willie took the time to plant a tree by his grandmother's graveside. Related Questions. This time, the former SAS soldier is fighting for the welfare and futures of the men and women who leave the services who, in his words, currently get nothing. Willie Apiata - humble Kiwi hero Corporal Bill Henry "Willie" Apiata was the first winner of the new Victoria Cross (VC) of New Zealand, which was instituted in 1999. He says if that happened to him then, how does a private soldier feel who's only done six years and wants to leave? Out of 6,122,890 records in the U.S. Social Security Administration public data, the first name Apiata was not present. Nearly seven years after leaving the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), Victoria Cross recipient Willie Apiata is going back into battle. Crucially, he's hoping to gain the trust of employers; to get them to look beyond the stereotypes and give former servicemen and women a chance. "In fact, write it down," he asks, indicating the Value cards he has provided. 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