     stewart graeme guthrie, gc (22 november 1948 â 13 november 1990) of new zealand is the most recent civilian recipient of the george cross, the highest award for conspicuous gallantry not in the face of an enemy awarded in certain commonwealth countries. he received the award for his role in the police response to the aramoana massacre, at which he lost his life. ==aramoana massacre==  guthrie, a new zealand police sergeant, and an nco in the armed offenders squad, was sole duty officer at port chalmers police station on 13 november 1990 when he received a report that a man was firing a weapon indiscriminately at aramoana, a small seaside township 8&nbsp;km north-east of port chalmers. sergeant guthrie immediately went to the town and liaised with police constable russell anderson, who had arrived separately with the fire brigade. new zealand police are generally unarmed, but because of the serious nature guthrie had brought a police smith & wesson model 10 revolver, and armed anderson with a rifle belonging to a local resident, before trying to apprehend the gunman. by this time, guthrie had learned the gunman had killed several people. guthrie knew the gunman, david gray, and located him inside his house. guthrie instructed the constable to cover the front of the house, while he took the more dangerous position at the rear of the property. during this time, guthrie had kept his control fully informed of the latest situation. tap
1948_births 1990_deaths Deaths_by_firearm_in_New_Zealand New_Zealand_recipients_of_the_George_Cross People_educated_at_Otago_Boys\'_High_School People_from_Dunedin People_from_Port_Chalmers People_murdered_in_New_Zealand