'At 0900 on Sunday 01 July my CO handed me three letters to read. The first was from the Governor General, the second from the Prime Minister and the third was from the Minister of Defence. These letters informed me that I had been awarded the Victoria Cross for New Zealand (V.C.).' Cpl Bill (Willie) Apiata, V.C. 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. 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. This book will not only establish the place of Corporal Apiata in New Zealand's history but will give an insight into the nature of a man who is truly a reluctant hero. While to most of us his actions seemed extraordinary and heroic, Corporal Apiata felt he was an ordinary Kiwi just 'doing his job'.
Between 1956 and 1971 the New Zealand SAS were deployed on active service four times. Michael Wings Williams career in the New Zealand Army, and the New Zealand SAS, spans a significant portion of this period and this book takes the reader through two of those key campaigns; Borneo and South Vietnam.This book gives us a glimpse into the world of an SAS soldier at that time through the eyes of one of New Zealand SAS most well-known veterans. This story is important for many reasons, not least because these Cold War experiences would be so critical for future generations of New Zealand Special Forces soldiers, including its most famous one; Willie Apiata VC. In his biography, author Paul Little writes that one of Apiatas best trainers was an instructor who had learnt from the Vietnam SAS vets - individuals like Wings Williams. Some stories are humorous, some are frightening and some ably illustrate the matter-of-fact candour that is a hallmark of this group of former elite soldiers. While many would cringe at being described in such a fashion, no member would disagree with their deep desire to achieve and maintain the highest professional standards that were expected from all SAS soldiers.This is what made the SAS soldiers; no glorified heroics, no outstanding deeds of daring-do but the application of unique Kiwi Special Forces culture of humility, commitment and unrelenting standardsofexcellence. While this book is much about Williams SAS career, it is considerably more than that. But for me, the real value in this book is Wings target audience. It is not the wider public nor is it the military historian, amateur or professional, even though this volume will be of immense interest to both. What pleases me more than anything is that this is a story for a family. There is a deep sense of duty and service that comes from reading this book, and it is my hope that Wings and his peers remain as proud of their contributions, sacrifices and accomplishments as I and many of the children within the SAS family have always been. Your stories are part of who we are, and many of us have been waiting some time to hear them.
As an army private, Johnson Beharry served in Kosovo, Northern Ireland and Iraq. In Iraq in 2004, his actions in rescuing his wounded comrades while under heavy fire led to him becoming the youngest person ever to receive the Victoria Cross. Since then, Johnson has made hundreds of public appearances, speaking about his experiences with children and young people in schools, youth offenders' centres and prisons. He is currently working on setting up a charity - the JBVC Foundation - to help prevent young people becoming involved in crime and gang culture. He has even appeared in a series of Dancing on Ice (2011 series) reaching the semi-final stage.
From gifted and unorthodox doctor, to wife-beating bully, to Star Wars bounty hunter, one thing Temuera Morrison can't be accused of is being typecast. With humble beginnings in the rural backblocks of Rotorua, Temuera's early life gave him a strong sense of family, community and culture. Following his father's tragic death when Temuera was just 14 years old, he developed his love of – and talent for – performing through kapa haka. It was the attention Temuera received as the violent and abusive Jake Heke in Once Were Warriors that brought him international acclaim and ultimately propelled him to Hollywood. In his memoir, Temuera talks about the roles he has played, the famous people he has worked alongside (including Pamela Anderson, Marlon Brando, Harrison Ford, Michael Jackson and George Lucas), the mistakes he's made in his life and the lessons he's learned along the way. This is a truly entertaining account of an event-packed life.
The New Zealand Police Armed Offenders Squads are never far from the headlines. Called out to the wost-case scenarios in which lives are in danger, their exploits make them a media magnet. But despite this, little is known about the people behind the masks. In conjunction with the TV documentary series Line of Fire, this book seeks to go behind the public facade of the AOS to get inside the heads of men and women who have served in the squads through the five decades of their existence. To find out what sort of person willingly steps into the line of fire to ensure that the country we live in is a safer place.
Our world needs rainforests. The plants in rainforests help to clean our air and replace the oxygen we breathe. Without rainforests our planet would die. In hot countries, they are called tropical rainforests. Do you know where in the world the rainforests are?
There's no pain, no theatrical agony. No screaming, no shouting. The kill shot is catastrophic and conclusive. I slump silently on to my knees and topple forward, head first, into the dirt. The lads have seen enough death to assume mine is instantaneous. The lights are out. That's him gone. Toby Gutteridge was only 24 when he was shot through the neck while operating behind enemy lines in Afghanistan. He survived despite not breathing for at least 20 minutes. Back in the UK, doctors recommended that his life support machine be switched off, but with the defiant spirit that would define his recovery, Toby pulled through. Now quadriplegic, capable of movement only with his head, Toby has rebuilt his life. His is an extraordinary story of survival against overwhelming odds, and of the power of the human spirit to overcome extreme adversity. Brutally honest and authentic, he builds a compelling picture of the type of person produced by the Special Forces system, and tells of how one split second changed the course of his life forever. Powerful and inspiring, Never Will I Die is a universal story about our search for purpose, and explores what extreme experience teaches us about what truly matters.
Hayley Westenra is unstoppable. Her album Pure has sold one million copies worldwide, is the best-selling debut album in the history of the UK classical album charts and has held the longest number one spot on the New Zealand Top 50 album charts. Hayley has signed a GBP3 million deal for her next five records. She's performed at Albert Hall, the Sydney Opera House and Carnegie Hall; she's sung with top classical artists such as Jose Carreras, Bryn Terfel and Russell Watson; she's performed in front of the British Royal Family, George W. Bush and Tony Blair. born into a family of singers - her grandparents on both sides sang in pubs and on the radio. Her perfect pitch was noticed by a schoolteacher when at the age of six she performed in a school Christmas play. A demo tape and busking on the streets of Christchurch led to her signing a record deal with Universal. Thus began Hayley's spectacular rise to fame. This is her story so far. It is also the story of an ordinary Christchurch family whose life has been turned upside down by Hayley's success.
Valdez has only recently arrived on the planet of Eco where a virus is threatening the future of human inhabitation. When his shuttle crashes in a remote area he must struggle for survival as well as coping with his supicions that his sister, a famous scientist, may be hiding a terrible secret. Suggested level: primary, intermediate.
This full sized replica of Britain's Special Air Service's secret wartime regimental diary measures some 17 x 12 x 4 inches and weighs nearly 28lbs. Containing 600 pages bound in leather over wood its was released for the 70th anniversary of the Regiment and to raise funds for the SAS Regimental Association.
