thumb|220px|charles heaphy, new zealand's first victoria cross recipient the victoria cross is a military decoration awarded for valour of the british and commonwealth forces. the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy, it was first instituted by queen victoria in 1856 after the crimean war. officially there have been 22 imperial victoria crosses awarded to new zealand military personnel. these awards were bestowed upon 21 individuals, with charles upham receiving the award on two separate occasions. the first award to a new zealander came in 1864 when charles heaphy received a victoria cross for his actions during the invasion of waikato during the new zealand wars. since then there has been one award to a new zealander serving during the second boer war, 11 during the first world war, and nine in the second world war. there were no awards to new zealanders for service during the korean war or the vietnam war. in addition to the 22 awards to new zealand military personnel, there have been seven other awards to new zealanders serving in overseas forces, which are not included in the official count. of these, the majority served with the australian forces during the first world war, including: alfred shout, percy storkey, lawrence weathers, and thomas cooke, all of whom are listed as australian recipients. new zealand's most famous soldier, bernard freyberg is sometimes listed as a new zealand recipient, although he was serving in the british army when he performed the deeds that led to his award in 1916,{{cite web |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10449097 |title=the full list of 22 kiwi vc winners |work=the new zealand herald |date= 2 july 2007 |accessdate=11 novembe
Lists_of_recipients_of_the_Victoria_Cross_by_nationality