Austin Forbes, President of the Court of Directors of the Royal Humane Society of New Zealand, reads the citation
Citation in full:
At 12.51pm on Tuesday 22 February 2011 an earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter Scale, accompanied by unprecedented ground acceleration forces, struck Christchurch. It was felt severely in the Central Business District in particular, where power, water and other services were badly disrupted. Several buildings collapsed, many more were badly damaged and more than 180 people lost their lives.
During that day, and in the immediate aftermath of this major natural disaster, there were many acts of conspicuous bravery and humanity in attempts to rescue and bring to safety or aid those trapped and injured in or as a result of building wreckage. There were many examples of people acting spontaneously and persistently in frightening and dangerous situations and courageously putting their own lives at risk to help fellow workers, friends and complete strangers.
In recognition of these numerous acts of bravery and humanity the Court of Directors of the Society decided that, rather than attempting to recognise individual acts, the Society's highest award, the Gold Medal, would be presented to the Mayor of Christchurch, on behalf of all those people, known and unknown, who had put their own lives in danger in saving or attempting to save lives and rescue others or were involved in selfless acts of humanity, so that their actions would thereby be commemorated.