The New Zealand Police Association Bravery Award recognises exceptional acts of police bravery; the ultimate expression of what is unique about policing.

Nominations open on 1 June and close on 31 July. See below for details on how to make a nomination.

Previous recipients of the Bravery Award

The Police Association introduced the Bravery Award in 2010 to recognise outstanding acts of bravery by members, and over the years we have given the award to officers whose actions have exemplified the highest standards of policing, on or off duty. The award represents peer recognition of outstanding bravery.

The first recipient was Inspector Mike O’Leary in 2010, for his bravery in rescuing two children from a burning van.  

In 2011 it was awarded to three recipients. Former Constable Marty Stiles and Constable Mike Wardle, who were involved in an incident in Christchurch during which Senior Constable Bruce Lamb was shot in the face, his police dog, Gage, was killed and his colleague, Constable Mitch Alatalo, was shot in the leg.  A third award was also made, but due to the nature of the police work, the recipient could not be publicly identified.  

No awards were made in 2012 due to no nominated acts being judged to have reached the very high standard needed.  In 2013, Senior Constable Bryan Farquharson and Constable Paul Bailey were recognised for their bravery in rescuing a boy from drowning in heavy surf at a Napier beach. In 2014 we were pleased to name Senior Constable Deane O’Connor, as the award recipient. Senior Constable O’Connor leapt from a bridge into the dark of Tauranga harbour to save a crash survivor.  His decision to leap into the water, without hesitation, unquestionably saved a life. 

In 2015 the award went to two deserving recipients: Constable Ben Turner, of Hamilton, who risked his life to confront a wanted armed man who was threatening a member of the public in a supermarket car park, and Senior Constable Adrian Oldham, of Papamoa, who entered a burning, smoke-filled house to rescue the elderly occupant after she had passed out. The following year due to operational reasons the award presentation was made in private.

In 2017, two officers were honoured. Former senior constable Ross Andrew made a daring cliff descent to help with the rescue of the injured driver of a truck that had crashed through a barrier in the Manawatu Gorge and landed in the river. In Northland, Constable Darren Critchley braved huge seas at Ninety Mile Beach to bring two swimmers to shore, one of whom died.

In 2018, it was awarded to Senior Constable Scott Quate for rescuing two people from the Waikato River after a vehicle had plunged off a bridge and into the water.

Last year the two police officers who arrested the man who carried out the Christchurch mosque attacks were honoured. When name suppression was lifted in December the officers were identified as Senior Constable Jim Manning and Senior Constable Scott Carmody, both of Canterbury.