Whakaari/White Island responders receive awards from New Zealand Defence Force

05:00, Jun 07 2021

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JOHN BORREN/GETTY IMAGESCrew members from the HMNZS Wellington that were involved in the response to the Whakaari/White Island eruption are among a group of New Zealand Defence Force personnel being acknowledged today.

New Zealand Defence Force personnel who flew and sailed in challenging conditions at short notice in the aftermath of the Whakaari/White Island eruption have been recognised with several military awards.

The December 9, 2019 eruption off the coast of Whakatāne in the eastern Bay of Plenty left 22 people dead and 25 people with severe or critical injuries.

Among the responders acknowledged by the Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) on Monday were people involved in the helicopter recovery operation in the aftermath of the deadly eruption, as well as specialist doctors, and crew from the HMNZS Wellington.

A pilot who pushed his helicopter “towards the edge of its limits” while undertaking a challenging low level search of the active volcano was awarded the Defence Meritorious Service Medal.

READ MORE:
* ‘I hadn’t eaten, I hadn’t slept’: NZDF commander recalls Whakaari/White Island recovery operation
* ‘I felt like I was in a different world’: The medics and military behind the Whakaari/White Island rescue and recovery
* The Whakaari recovery operation – behind the scenes

Chief of the NZDF, Air Marshal Kevin Short, said the actions of all those involved with the victim recovery operation “showed great courage and determination to retrieve those that perished on the island”.

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The NZDF deployed personnel from the Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force and New Zealand Army to respond alongside other agencies to the emergency situation on Whakaari, and were able to reunite the remains of six victims with their families.

Flight Lieutenant Hamish Reichardt was the lead pilot of the second NH90 helicopter detachment that was sent out.

The aircraft had to deal with unfavourable wind and low cloud, as well as a regular volcanic explosion every few minutes that would cover most of the crater with poisonous gas and fumes.

Flight Lieutenant Reichardt flew the helicopter in and out of the area in cycles and, with two of the victims unable to be located, undertook a low level search, “demanding exceptional piloting skill to operate the NH90 helicopter towards the edge of its limits”.PHIL WALTER/GETTY IMAGESThe December 9, 2019 eruption of Whakaari/White Island left 22 people dead and 25 people with severe or critical injuries.

Reichardt was commended for his leadership, tenacity, judgement, and his quick decision-making in modifying the recovery plan to use an alternative technique to recover some of the more isolated bodies.

“In doing so he ensured that the ground recovery teams were not exposed to the fatiguing and hazardous environment for any longer than necessary.”

Reichardt was awarded the Defence Meritorious Service Medal.DNZMTHE NEW ZEALAND ORDER OF MERIT: DAMES COMPANIONProfessor Carolyn Waugh Burns, CBEFor services to ecological researchJudith Anne Kilpatrick, CNZMFor services to nursing educationHinewehi Mohi, MNZMFor services to Māori, music and televisionRuia Mereana Morrison, MBEFor services to tennisKNZMTHE NEW ZEALAND ORDER OF MERIT: KNIGHTS COMPANIONMichael Grenfell DaniellFor services to business, healthcare and governanceDistinguished Professor William Alexander Denny, ONZMFor services to medical researchWayne Thomas Shelford, MBEFor services to rugby and the communityGrahame Charles Sydney, ONZMFor services to artCNZMTHE NEW ZEALAND ORDER OF MERIT: COMPANIONSDr Evelyn Imelda CoxonFor services to Pacific and tertiary educationDavid Charles CullFor services to local governmentDeceased. Her Majesty’s approval of this award took effect on 26 April 2021, prior to the date of decease.Robert Charles Francis, QSO, MBE, JPFor services to community and conservationProfessor Angus Hikairo MacfarlaneFor services to education, psychology and MāoriDr Kevin Raymond MarshallFor services to food science and technologyHarry Haerengarangi MikaereFor services to the aquaculture industry and MāoriMr John Stewart Ombler, QSOFor services to the public serviceProfessor Suzanne Carolyn PurdyFor services to audiology and communication scienceProfessor Emeritus David Eric RichmondFor services to health and educationDr Robert Simon Hearn RowleyFor services to paediatric and neonatal careDr Maxwell Gilbert Shepherd, JPFor services to biotechnology and businessJohn Webster Te Kapene ThatcherFor services to Māori and educationONZMTHE NEW ZEALAND ORDER OF MERIT: OFFICERSMurray Ian BainFor services to tertiary education and digital learningMargaret Mary BakerFor services to Special OlympicsCarol Ann BeaumontFor services to the union movement and women’s rightsDavid Ross BlackFor services to healthJames Anthony BrownlieFor services to agriculture and educationJamie BullFor services to the performing arts and the communityHugh Jason Paul CanardFor services to conservation and paddle sportsGarry Keith CarnachanFor services to secondary school sportMargaret Agnes ChapmanFor services to rural women and rural communitiesReverend Iliafi Talotusitusi EseraFor services to the Samoan community and Christian ministryFiona Mary GowerFor services to rural women and governanceDr Anne Denise GuyFor services to infant mental healthSusan Jean Hassall, JPFor services to educationAnne Lynette Hawker, QSMFor services to people with disabilitiesProfessor Emerita Paula Elizabeth JamesonFor services to plant scienceEsther Rata Jessop, QSMFor services to Māori and to New Zealand-United Kingdom relationsTakutai Moana Natasha KempFor services to street dance and youthRobert Henry LudbrookFor services to family law and children’s rightsMary Joan McFarlaneFor services to swimmingDr Benjamin Frank PittmanFor services to Māori and artFiona Jocelyn RiddellFor services to cardiac physiologyDr Linda Janet RobertsonFor services to Occupational Therapy and seniorsItamua Muaiao’omalo Mataiva Dorothy RobertsonFor services to women, youth and the Pacific communityRiccardo Michele SalizzoFor services to sports mediaNoma Jeanne Shepherd, MNZMFor services to the communityProfessor Harold John SimpsonFor services to art educationDarien Ruth TakleFor services to the performing artsGwendoline Tepania-PalmerFor services to Māori and healthPhilip Spencer TrusttumFor services to artBeverley Celia WatsonFor services to race relations and youthBruce William Massy WillsFor services to agriculture and the environmentNeil Bernard WoodhamsFor services to people with Multiple SclerosisHonoraryDr Wolfgang ScholzFor services to engineering and metals-based industryMNZMTHE NEW ZEALAND ORDER OF MERIT: MEMBERSLynette Kaye AndersonFor services to the zoological industry and conservationDavid John AppleyardFor services to educationRyan Jeffrey ArchibaldFor services to hockeyJane Ross ArnottFor services to Pacific communities and conservation advocacySergeant Gurpreet Singh AroraFor services to the New Zealand Police and ethnic communitiesRichard Douglas BengeFor services to arts accessibilityDanielle Rachelle Bergin, JPFor services to the community, particularly the homelessMurray Frank BinningFor services to Fire and Emergency New ZealandAdam Ngawati BlairFor services to rugby leagueCynthia Margaret BowersFor serives to the community and local governmentDorothy Joy BurtFor services to digital learningCatherine Frances Cooney, JPFor services to health and the communityYvette Louise Couch-LewisFor services to conservation and MāoriNicola Jane DenholmFor services to humanitarian advocacy and photographyMustafa Ismail DerbashiFor services to migrant and refugee communitiesMargaret Ann DoddsFor services to special educationDr Graeme Alexander DownesFor services to music and music educationMiles Denis ElleryFor services to youth, education and the communityKathleen Margaret FarrellFor services to netballDr Michael John FletcherFor services to social and public policyDr Janet Seymour FraterFor services as a General PractitionerLala Athene Frazer, QSMFor services to conservationSameer HandaFor services to business and New Zealand-India relationsIqbal Manzoor HaqueFor services to education governanceBruce Henry HartFor services to educationFrancis William HelpsFor services to wildlife conservationShireen May HelpsFor services to wildlife conservationMichael David HoldsworthFor services to Special OlympicsMargaret Anne HopkinsFor services to conservation and the communityPeter Ronald HorneFor services to bowls and Paralympic sportSally Anne Jackson, JPFor services to special educationShirley Diane KerrFor services to mycologyMary Louise KislerFor services to art history and curationHoani Sydney LangsburyFor services to conservationShirley Audrey LaniganFor services to nursingKenneth Bernard LaurentFor services to wildlife conservationSusanne Maire LaurentFor services to wildlife conservationColleen Janice LyonsFor services to netball and educationDr Peter Alexander MaddisonFor services to conservationPosenai Samoa MavaegaFor services to Pacific performing artsTanya Soliali’i Mavaega (Tanya Muagututi’a)For services to Pacific performing artsPhillis-Jean MetiFor services to sport, particularly golfMani Bruce MitchellFor services to intersex advocacy and educationTed Turua NgatakiFor services to Māori and the communityCaron OrelowitzFor services to podiatryKaroline Fuarosa Park-TamatiFor services to musicJanet Louise PetersFor services to mental healthStephen Leslie Phillips, JPFor services to seniors and the communitySamantha Anne Powell (Dr Samantha Murton)For services to medical education, particularly general practiceTere Veronica RapleyFor services to music and televisionMaxine Khrona ShortlandFor services to netball and governanceRobin John SimmonsFor services to the rail industryGina SolomonFor services to conservation and governanceReverend Janice Ellen SteadFor services to sport and the communityMairehe Louise Marie TankersleyFor services to prisoners’ welfare and MāoriGabriel Pikiao Edward Te MoanaFor services to Māori and governanceHelen Theresa Cecilia VarneyFor services to education, particularly Pacific educationKaren VercoeFor services to governance and sportGraeme Douglas WattsFor services to the community and charity fundraisingHeather Margaret Williamson, JPFor services to netball and the communityTracey Lee Wright-TawhaFor services to health and MāoriHonoraryLouisa HumphryFor services to the Kiribati community and cultureQSOQUEEN’S SERVICE ORDER: COMPANIONSThe Honourable Ruth Suzanne DysonFor services as a Member of Parliament and to people with disabilitiesMichelle Susan GrantFor services to victims of sexual violenceDavid Alan MatthewsFor services to people with disabilitiesPeter Anthony MiskimminFor services to sports governance and public serviceSarah Ann Stuart-BlackFor services to emergency managementHeather Leigh TanguayFor services to local government and the communityQSMQUEEN’S SERVICE MEDALCarolyn Anne Amos, JPFor services to the communityGraeme Rodney BakerFor services to the communityGrant Andrew Aaron BakerFor services to cricket and the communityJacquetta BellFor services to arts and the communityDr Alastair Hartley Blackie, JPFor services to dentistry and local governmentSuzanne BlakelyFor services to refugees and ESOL educationBruce Edwin BoldFor services to the communitySergeant Andrew George BrookeFor services to Search and RescueBarbara Michelle CameronFor services to the community and local governmentCharles Edwin CampbellFor services to the performing artsGrant Kenneth ConaghanFor services to Search and RescueKevin Graham CurtisFor services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the communityDiana Lois DobsonFor services to wildlife conservationSonia Elizabeth EdwardsFor services to wildlife conservationCarol Annette FrostFor services to the homeless and prisoner rehabilitationDr Derek Clifton GibbonsFor services to healthRobert MacGregor GreenfieldFor services to college footballNeville Henry JacobsenFor services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the communityGary Irving LangFor services to Special Olympics and the communityHeather Dorothy LearFor services to inclusive educationIan Christopher Leigh-Mackenzie, JPFor services to the communityJudith Elaine LivingstonFor services to music and the communityRonal Arthur Luxton, JPFor services to health and the communityHabib Ullah MarwatFor services to Muslim and ethnic communitiesYvonne Mavis OfficerFor services to victim supportMila Kim OhFor services to Korean culture and New Zealand-Republic of Korea relationsTe Rehia Teresa Fay PapeschFor services to the community and public serviceReverend Victor Siaosi PouesiFor services to the Samoan communityAnita Ruth PrimeFor services to youth and the communityAlan John ReekieFor services to performing arts governanceDiana Helen ReidFor services to cancer supportJannette Leah RileyFor services to cancer support and fundraisingYvonne Esther RobertsFor services to quilting and patchwork craftJohn Robert Sandison, JPFor services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the communityTaualoa Lalopua SaneleFor services to union movement and Samoan communityGregory John Loisel SheltonFor services to the communityElizabeth Margaret SteelFor services to the communityVanessa Ann TaylorFor services to bowls and the communityKenneth Terrance TrinderFor services to Māori and the communityPaul Eric TysonFor services to sport and the communityRachael Anne UtumapuFor services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and people with cancerKim Heather WardFor services to the communityJanice Valida WhiteFor services to seniors and people with disabilitiesGordon WuFor services to the Chinese communityDSDTHE NEW ZEALAND DISTINGUISHED SERVICE DECORATIONServiceman MFor services to the New Zealand Defence ForceLieutenant Colonel Adam John Modd, GMFor services to the New Zealand Defence ForceSpeedPosition

Other members of the helicopter recovery operation were awarded the Chief of Defence Force Commendation.

They were: co-pilot Flight Lieutenant Loic Ifrah, second helicopter loadmaster Sergeant Jennifer Hart, and lead helicopter loadmaster Sergeant Phillip Delaney.

Squadron Leader Christopher Ross also received a New Zealand Defence Force Commendation for the leadership and planning role he played during the operation.

ADVERTISEMENTAdvertise with StuffPlayUnmuteCurrent Time 0:31/Duration 8:29Loaded: 19.49% FullscreenSTUFFOn the afternoon of Monday December 9, Whakaari/White Island erupted while people were visiting the live volcano. The consequences were tragic.

Meanwhile, on the day of the eruption, the HMNZS Wellington had just returned to Devonport Naval Base in Auckland after completing a six-week fisheries patrol.

When it was activated to respond to Whakaari, the crew was recalled and the ship set sail within just a few hours for Whakatāne.

With a crew of 69 people, the HMNZS Wellington played a pivotal role in recovering six of the eight people who died on the island following the eruption, as well as in the ongoing search around White Island for the two missing victims.

In the following days, the ship was required to navigate close to the volcano and often deployed personnel close to the shore, sometimes at night and in difficult weather conditions, and always facing the possibility of further eruptions.

Four members of the crew were today awarded a Chief of Defence Force Commendation, including the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Timothy Hall, and three rigid-hull inflatable boat coxswains who participated in the recovery effort throughout the entire period the ship was on station in support.

They were: Leading Seaman Combat Specialist Joseph Campbell, Leading Seaman Combat Specialist Reyne Hepi, and Leading Hydrographic Systems Operator Stephen Lofthouse.

The HMNZS Wellington also received a New Zealand Defence Force Commendation.LILLANI HOPKINS/SUPPLIEDWhakaari/White Island eruption as seen from tourist boat.

Dr Sophie Walker was awarded a New Zealand Defence Force Commendation for providing expert guidance on the appropriate protective equipment from the volcanic gases and liquids that those undertaking the recovery might encounter, as well as the decontamination process needed afterwards.

Dr Walker also made sure people were well-informed of the risks present on Whakaari, and advised them on how best to mitigate those risks. She was widely acknowledged for clearly articulating complex technical issues.

Lieutenant Colonel Charmaine Tate received a New Zealand Defence Force Commendation for her role in assisting with disaster victim identification and body recovery operations. She adapted and fulfilled a variety of roles to ensure the emergency agencies, the New Zealand Police, and the NZDF were able to successfully conduct dangerous tasks in support of the recovery.

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Air Marshal Short also acknowledged nine members of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron (EOD) today, who cannot be named.

The squadron was deployed on the volcano four days after the eruption to recover the victims who had succumbed to the deadly effects of the initial eruption.

Short said those nine members each displayed courage and determination as they faced extreme conditions, while wearing cumbersome protective equipment that caused them to fatigue quickly.

“Their efforts played a critical role in the success of the operation.”

They were awarded seven Defence Meritorious Service Medals and two Chief of Defence Force Commendations.

A tenth member of the squadron who supported those who deployed on the volcano was awarded a New Zealand Defence Force Commendation.

Award recipients

* Flight Lieutenant Hamish Reichardt – Defence Meritorious Service Medal
* Sergeant Phillip Delaney – Chief of Defence Force Commendation
* Flight Lieutenant Loic Ifrah – Chief of Defence Force Commendation
* Sergeant Jennifer Hart – Chief of Defence Force Commendation
* Leading Seaman Combat Specialist Joseph Campbell – Chief of Defence Force Commendation
* Leading Seaman Combat Specialist Reyne Hepi – Chief of Defence Force Commendation
* Leading Hydrographic Systems Operator Stephen Lofthouse – Chief of Defence Force Commendation
* Lieutenant Commander Timothy Hall – Chief of Defence Force Commendation
* Dr Sophie Walker – New Zealand Defence Force Commendation
* Squadron Leader Christopher Ross – New Zealand Defence Force Commendation
* Lieutenant Colonel Charmaine Tate – New Zealand Defence Force Commendation
* HMNZS Wellington – New Zealand Defence Force Commendation
* Members of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron (who cannot be named) – seven Defence Meritorious Service Medals, two Chief of Defence Force Commendations, and one New Zealand Defence Force Commendation.
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