Moana - Nui - a - Kiwa Ngarimu Moana - Nui - a - Kiwa Ngarimu VC ( 7 April 1918 – 27 March 1943 ) was a New Zealand soldier and posthumous recipient of the Victoria Cross , the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces . Early life . A Māori of Ngati Porou and Te Whanau - a - Apanui descent , Ngarimu was born on 7 April 1918 in Whareponga in the East Coast region . He grew up in Ruatoria where he attended Hiruharama School before going on to attend Te Aute College at Poukawa in Hawkes Bay . After completing his fourth form year , he worked as a shepherd on his father ' s sheep farm . Military career . Following the outbreak of the Second World War , Ngarimu joined the New Zealand Army on 11 February 1940 , volunteering for the 28th ( Māori ) Battalion . The battalion , which embarked in May 1940 with the 2nd Echelon of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force was destined for the Middle East to join the 1st Echelon , but instead was diverted to England in May 1940 where it formed part of the island ' s defence against a possible German invasion . The battalion eventually arrived in Egypt in March 1941 . Ngarimu served through the battles of Greece and Crete after which he participated with the battalion during the North African Campaign . Commissioned in April 1942 , he served for a time as an intelligence officer before being given command of his own platoon . By March 1943 , the campaign in Africa had moved to Tunisia . The 2nd Division , of which the Māori battalion was part of , was tasked with the capture of the Tebaga Gap , which disrupted otherwise mountainous terrain . Several hills overlooked the gap , which itself was forced relatively easy , although several hills remained in German hands . One such hill was Point 209 , held by the 2nd Battalion , 433 Panzer Grenadier Regiment of the 164 Light Division . Ngarimu ' s company was allocated the objective of the capture of Point 209 . On the afternoon of 26 March , he led his men up the slope and captured what was believed to be the top of Point 209 , although it transpired to be a false summit and a feature lower on the slopes of Point 209 . Fierce fighting transpired as the Germans attempted to drive Ngarimu ' s forces off the hill . Twice wounded , he and his men defended their position from several counter - attacks during the night . His position reinforced the following morning , he was killed during the next counter - attack . The false summit remained in the hands of Ngarimu ' s company , and the Germans still on Point 209 itself surrendered the same day once artillery support had been brought to bear on Point 209 . Ngarimu is buried in the British Military Cemetery at Sfax , Tunisia , and is commemorated by a scholarship promoting education of Māori . The medal . The medal was presented to his parents by the governor general , < a href = " Cyril % 20Newall % 2C % 201st % 20Baron % 20Newall " > Sir Cyril Newall < / a > , at a hui at Ruatoria on 6 October 1943 attended by government leaders , diplomatic representatives and local people . The first of only two Victoria Crosses awarded to Māori , it was displayed in Gisborne in the Tairawhiti Museum ’ s Prize of Citizenship Gallery .