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Reluctant Hero

2008 Television
  • Documentary
  • Māori
  • War
  • Captioned
  • NZ History
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About

In 2007 Willie Apiata, of the NZ Army's elite SAS unit, was awarded the Victoria Cross for carrying a wounded soldier to safety while under fire in Afghanistan. This documentary had exclusive access to Corporal Apiata, from the moment he was told about the VC to his decision a few weeks later to gift the medal to the nation. The shy soldier struggles to deal with his sudden celebrity, and military bosses have to cope with the dual demand of handling media interest in the VC win while still keeping the work of the SAS relatively secret.

Key Cast & Crew

Profile picture of Tenby Powell
Tenby Powell
Executive Producer

Related images

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Filming of battle reconstruction with NZSAS troops.
Kindly supplied by Desert Road Ltd.
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Publicity image, taken just before Corporal Wilie Apiata's press conference.
Kindly supplied by Desert Road Ltd.
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Victoria Cross medal.
Kindly supplied by Desert Road Ltd.
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Corporal Willie Apiata during Victoria Cross award ceremony at Te Kaha Marae.
Kindly supplied by Desert Road Ltd.
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Corporal Willie Apiata invested with Victoria Cross during ceremony at Government House.
Kindly supplied by Desert Road Ltd.
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Corporal Willie Apiata during ceremony at Te Kaha Marae.
Kindly supplied by Desert Road Ltd.
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Corporal Willie Apiata is welcomed home on to Te Kaha Marae.
Kindly supplied by Desert Road Ltd.