1. WILLIE APIATA BIOGRAPHY By Isabelle Alexander

2. EARLY LIFE Bill Henry Apiata is his full name. He is known as Willie. He was born on the 28 th of June 1972. That means right now he is 43 years old. His place of birth is Mangakino, Waikato. His father is Maori and his mother is a Pakeha New Zealander. When he was quite young, his parents split up. He has three sisters.

3. EARLY LIFE (CONTINUED) Willie spent his early years in Northland before he moved to Te Kaha, Eastern Bay of Plenty. When he lived in the Eastern Bay of Plenty he attended the Whanau-a-Apanui Area School. He left school on his 15 th birthday. Willie moved to Auckland to live with relatives when he was 16. He is close to these relatives.

4. FAMILY AND TRIBE Willie has an approximately 12 year old son. Willie belongs to the Nga Puhi iwi through his father. Having lived in the Eastern Bay of Plenty for a long time he feels a part of the Whanau-a-Apanui iwi. His home marae is Tukaki Marae in Te Kaha.

5. ARMY Willie enlisted in the New Zealand Army in 1989. He had friends in the Army who encouraged him to join up. He was In the Territorial Force. Territorials are part time soldiers. Willie first heard of the NZ Special Air Services (NZSAS) when he was part of the enemy for a NZSAS training exercise. He applied for NZSAS in November 1996 but he was not selected.

6. ARMY (CONTINUED) From July 2000-April 2001 he served in East Timor in the NZ 3 rd Battalion. When he returned to NZ he became a full time soldier. Willie joined the NZSAS in 2002.

7. BRAVERY In 2004 in Afghanistan Lance Corporal Apiata’s troop was attacked by the enemy at night. One of the troop members got life threatening injuries from shrapnel. Willie carried the wounded man 70 meters to reach shelter where he could be protected and get medical treatment. When he carried the man he had guns shooting at him and the ground was rocky. It is incredible he did not get shot. He had saved that man’s life. He continued fighting and NZ won the attack.

8. VICTORIA CROSS In 2007 Willie Apiata was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery under fire. His words were, “I just did what I was trained to do. It’s what mates do for each other.” In my opinion Willie Apiata is a true hero and is very humble!

9. THANK YOU Check out this video https://youtu.be/chhmScYvNYE