List of New Zealand Wars Victoria Cross recipients The Victoria Cross ( VC ) was awarded to 15 recipients for action during the New Zealand Wars . The VC is a military decoration awarded for valour " in the face of the enemy " to members of armed forces of some Commonwealth countries and previous British Empire territories . It takes precedence over all other orders , decorations and medals ; it may be awarded to a person of any rank in any service and to civilians under military command . The award was officially constituted when Queen Victoria issued a warrant under the Royal sign - manual on 29 January 1856 , which was gazetted on 5 February 1856 . The order was backdated to 1854 to recognise acts of valour during the Crimean War . Originally , the VC was not available to colonial troops , even if under British command , but this changed in 1867 . The extension was made following a recommendation for gallantry regarding colonial soldier Major Charles Heaphy for action in the land wars in 1864 . He was operating under British command and the VC was gazetted in 1867 . Later that year , the Government of New Zealand assumed full responsibility for operations but no further recommendations for the Victoria Cross were raised for local troops who distinguished themselves in action . Following gallant actions by three New Zealand soldiers in November 1868 and January 1869 during the land wars , an Order in Council on 10 March 1869 created a “ Distinctive Decoration ” for members of the local forces without seeking permission from the Secretary of State for the Colonies . Although the Governor was chided for exceeding his authority , the Order in Council was ratified by the Queen . The title “ Distinctive Decoration ” was later replaced by the title New Zealand Cross . The New Zealand Land Wars were a series of conflicts that took place in New Zealand between 1845 and 1872 . The two conflicts where soldiers were awarded the Victoria Cross were the First Taranaki War of 1860 – 1861 and the Waikato - Hauhau Māori War of 1863 – 1866 . The First Taranaki War was fought over land rights on New Zealand ' s North Island . The local Colonial Governor had set up a policy whereby the British Government could buy local land , and anyone refusing to sell their land would be committing treason against the Crown . When the Te Atiawa refused to sell their land , the British Army attacked on 17 March 1860 , starting the First Taranaki War . After a series of sieges by the British , a truce was signed with the Māori people in March 1861 ; the disputed land became British - owned territory but it remained in possession of the Māori people . The First Taranaki War ended in a stalemate over the one area of disputed land . By 1863 the influx of settlers and consequent demand for land led to further conflict . In July 1863 , the British Army and the Auckland Militia launched the Invasion of Waikato against the forces of Tāwhiao and the Māori King Movement . The British expelled the Māori people from their lands , swiftly moving south , culminating in the defeat and flight of Tāwhiao at Orakau in March 1864 . The British pursued him across the country as far as the fourth Waikato defensive line , which later became the border of King Country . < br >