Skip to main content Skip to navigation
Back to top anchor
Home The Governor-General of New Zealand
The Governor-General of New Zealand
Page url
  • Home
  • News and Events
  • Contact us
  • Tours and Education
Open search Close search
  • The Governor-General
    • Biography of The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, GNZM, QSO
    • Biography of Dr Richard Davies
    • Media statements
    • Speeches by The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro
    • The Governor-General's blog
  • Office of the Governor-General
    • Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla
      • About the Coronation service
      • The King of New Zealand
      • Get involved
      • Coronation events
    • Roles and functions of the Governor-General
      • Constitutional role
        • New Zealand’s Constitution
          • On the Constitution of New Zealand
          • The Queen's constitutional and public ceremonial roles
        • Credentials ceremonies
        • The Executive Council
        • The Reserve Powers
        • The Royal prerogative of mercy
      • Ceremonial role
        • Investiture ceremonies
          • Information for recipients
        • New Zealand Royal Honours
      • Community role
      • International Role
    • Conditions of Appointment
      • Administrator of the Government
      • The Governor-General Act
      • The Governor-General's Flag
    • History
      • New Zealand's Governor-General - an historical perspective
      • Former Governors-General
    • Invitations, patronage and cards
      • Invitations for the Governor-General
        • Dress code for Government House events
      • Hosting the Governor-General
      • Order of precedence in New Zealand
      • Applying for vice-regal patronage
      • Current Vice-regal patronages
      • Congratulatory messages
    • Contacting the Governor-General
      • Guidance for writing to the Governor-General
    • Official portraits
    • Royal Commission Reports
  • Government House
    • Government House Wellington
      • Government House tours
        • Accessibility Information
        • Education tours
          • Educational resources
        • Group tours
        • Upcoming public tours
      • Rooms of Government House
        • Bledisloe Conservatory
        • Blundell and Porritt Rooms
        • Fitzroy Room
        • Galway and guest suites
        • Liverpool Room
        • Main Hallway
        • Maota Ariki
        • The Ballroom
        • The Council Room
        • The Landing
        • The Norrie State Dining Room
        • The Taupaepae
      • Artwork and artifacts
        • Carved coats of arms
          • The carvers and timber
          • Understanding an Achievement of Arms
          • The Designs
          • New Zealand elements
      • Government House centenary
      • Government House conservation
        • Conservation rationale
        • The project in detail
    • Government House Auckland
      • Government House Auckland garden tours
        • Group garden tours
        • Upcoming public garden tours
      • Planning your visit and accessibility
      • History of the gardens
    • Other Government Houses
    • Staff at Government House
      • Management of Government House
    • Tours

Browse all sections

  • The Governor-General
    • Biography of The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, GNZM, QSO
    • Biography of Dr Richard Davies
    • Media statements
    • Speeches by The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro
    • The Governor-General's blog
  • Office of the Governor-General
    • Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla
      • About the Coronation service
      • The King of New Zealand
      • Get involved
      • Coronation events
    • Roles and functions of the Governor-General
      • Constitutional role
        • New Zealand’s Constitution
        • Credentials ceremonies
        • The Executive Council
        • The Reserve Powers
        • The Royal prerogative of mercy
      • Ceremonial role
        • Investiture ceremonies
        • New Zealand Royal Honours
      • Community role
      • International Role
    • Conditions of Appointment
      • Administrator of the Government
      • The Governor-General Act
      • The Governor-General's Flag
    • History
      • New Zealand's Governor-General - an historical perspective
      • Former Governors-General
    • Invitations, patronage and cards
      • Invitations for the Governor-General
        • Dress code for Government House events
      • Hosting the Governor-General
      • Order of precedence in New Zealand
      • Applying for vice-regal patronage
      • Current Vice-regal patronages
      • Congratulatory messages
    • Contacting the Governor-General
      • Guidance for writing to the Governor-General
    • Official portraits
    • Royal Commission Reports
  • Government House
    • Government House Wellington
      • Government House tours
        • Accessibility Information
        • Education tours
        • Group tours
        • Upcoming public tours
      • Rooms of Government House
        • Bledisloe Conservatory
        • Blundell and Porritt Rooms
        • Fitzroy Room
        • Galway and guest suites
        • Liverpool Room
        • Main Hallway
        • Maota Ariki
        • The Ballroom
        • The Council Room
        • The Landing
        • The Norrie State Dining Room
        • The Taupaepae
      • Artwork and artifacts
        • Carved coats of arms
      • Government House centenary
      • Government House conservation
        • Conservation rationale
        • The project in detail
    • Government House Auckland
      • Government House Auckland garden tours
        • Group garden tours
        • Upcoming public garden tours
      • Planning your visit and accessibility
      • History of the gardens
    • Other Government Houses
    • Staff at Government House
      • Management of Government House
    • Tours
  1. Home
  2. Wellington Investiture Bravery Awards 2023

Wellington Investiture Bravery Awards 2023

Back to gallery
  • Mr Jason Hill, Dame Cindy Kiro

    Mr Jason Hill, NZBD, for an act of exceptional bravery in a situation of danger

    Jason Hill and Mr Tom Storey of heavy lift and aerial support helicopter company Kāhu NZ became aware of the eruption and took off from Whakatāne at 2.50pm with the intention of assisting the injured on the island. They flew by the White Island visitors boat ‘Phoenix’ on its way back to Whakatāne. They hovered by the Phoenix, with the offer of airlifting the worst injured. After learning that the Phoenix would soon receive support from a coast guard boat with paramedics onboard, Hill and Storey were radioed by Mr Mark Law, CEO of Kāhu NZ who had flown ahead and landed on the island around 3.12pm, requesting they join him to assist on the ground. With acidic air a present issue for the helicopter engines, the pilots left their engines on and rotors turning after landing to improve their chances of taking off again. After Mr Storey and Mr Hill had landed, Mr Law briefed them on what he had observed by scouting ahead to the crater, locating 20 casualties. With gas masks on, Law, Storey and Hill waded through shin-deep drifts of ash to the casualties. The casualties were in various positions, covered in thick ash. Ash fell on the men as they moved about and the acidic air made breathing difficult. The crew moved from person to person, checking on the casualties who had extensive burns and were in various stages of consciousness. Mr Hill ran back to the landing platform and flew his helicopter up to the crater for casualties to be loaded onboard by the crew. He then lifted off with the maximum of five casualties aboard his helicopter at 3.48pm and flew them to Whakatāne Hospital.

    Occasion:
    Investiture ceremony
    Location (region):
    Wellington
    • Small
    • Large
    • Original
  • Previous page Previous
  • Page 3
  • Next page Next
3 of 5

Content wrapper

Help us improve the Governor-General website

Your feedback is very important in helping us improve the the Governor-General website.


More menu anchor

Back to top

The Governor-General
  • Biography of The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, GNZM, QSO
  • Biography of Dr Richard Davies
  • Media statements
  • Speeches by The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro
  • The Governor-General's blog
Office of the Governor-General
  • Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla
  • Roles and functions of the Governor-General
  • Conditions of Appointment
  • History
  • Invitations, patronage and cards
  • Contacting the Governor-General
  • Official portraits
  • Royal Commission Reports
Government House
  • Government House Wellington
  • Government House Auckland
  • Other Government Houses
  • Staff at Government House
  • Tours
News and events
  • News archive
Publications
  • Publications archive
  • Historical essays
  • Media statements
  • Speeches
  • Image galleries
  • Image search

© Crown copyright: Government House, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

  • Contact us
  • Copyright and licensing
  • Privacy
  • Site map
New Zealand Government