Royal Humane Society Bravery Awards Ceremony

Kia ora koutou.  Nau mai haere mai ra ki Te Whare Kawana o Tamaki Makaurau.  Greetings and welcome to Government House.

Ladies and gentlemen, as Governor-General and Patron of the Royal Humane Society of New Zealand, it is an honour on behalf of the Society, to host this ceremony and to acknowledge a young man who gave his life to save another.

The Royal Humane Society has long been part of New Zealand’s formal acknowledgement and recognition system.  For 115 years it has bestowed awards for acts of bravery, and for all humane acts of a like nature.
 
The person being recognised today has demonstrated exemplary bravery, and it is appropriate he is recognised in this way.

Ceremonies such as this are often bitter-sweet.  There have been many instances where either the person being rescued died despite the best efforts of those attempting to save them, or equally sadly, where the rescuer has paid the ultimate sacrifice.

And so it is with this award today, in which we honour, Teuteronome Zebedee Pua, who on 19 January 2012, came to the aid of seven year old Holly Reichs who was struggling to keep afloat in the surf at O’Neill Bay. 

I will not recount what occurred that day as the formal citation will be read out by Niels Holm, Official Secretary.  Sadly, despite Zebedee’s heroic efforts in rescuing Holly, he tragically lost his life.

Niels Holm will now summon Zebedee’s younger brother, Raymond Pua, and read a citation.

 
Citation

Teuteronome Zebedee Pua, Zebedee, to his family and friends, put his life at risk to help a little girl who was struggling to keep afloat in the surf at O’Neill Bay, on 19 January 2012.

Seven year old Holly Reich and her brother Brodie, aged 11, had been swimming at a beach in West Auckland when Holly got into difficulty.  Holly was swimming near the rocks when she was caught in a rip and was being dragged her out to sea.  She called for help.

Zebedee, just 15 years of age, had just arrived at the beach with his younger brother Raymond when they heard Holly’s cry for help.  They jumped in the water and swam towards Holly, but the current was too strong for Raymond and he had to return to shore.

At this stage Holly was approximately 15 metres from shore.  Zebedee pressed on until he reached Hollie.  He put her on his back to keep her from drowning, treading water to keep them both afloat.

Holly’s father heard the calls and swam out to sea.  He managed to take his daughter from Zebedee and swam back to shore with her.  Hollie survived.

Tragically, Zebedee didn’t.  Although Zebedee was a strong swimmer, he was too exhausted from treading water trying to keep them both afloat, and he was tragically carried out to sea by the rip.

In spite of all the efforts to find Zebedee he could not be saved. 

*Medal awarded

Ladies and Gentlemen: It has been my privilege to present the Royal Humane Society silver medal to a truly deserving recipient.  

Zebedee demonstrated one of the greatest of all human qualities – compassion - risking his life, in order to save another.  Zebedee didn’t know the young girl crying for help, and he didn’t hesitate to go to her aid.

Zebedee’s actions also showed exceptional courage.  For someone so young to put his life at risk is testament to his character.

It takes great courage, great determination and compassion to act selflessly, and to put yourself in danger when you don’t know what could happen.  Zebedee could have chosen to act differently, to wait for help, but he made a conscious decision to act.

It is in those split-second decisions that the true character of a person is revealed.  Zebedee showed himself to be a young man of great courage and example.  You, his family, should be extremely proud of Zebedee.  And yet I again acknowledge that this day and this ceremony is a bitter-sweet occasion for you.

Ladies and gentlemen I thank you for coming along today to celebrate a courageous, compassionate and caring young man.

Kia ora huihui tatou katoa. Again, greetings to all.