A posthumous recipient of the Victoria Cross, Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu was the first person of Māori descent to be given the award.

He was killed in action during the Tunisian campaign of the Second World War, labelled 'Operation Supercharge II'.

Ngarimu's company was tasked with the capture of Point 209 on a hill held by the German 433 Panzer Grenadier Regiment of the 164th Light Division.

He led his men up the slope through intense machine gun and mortar fire, "displaying courage and leadership of the highest order... personally annihilating at least two enemy machine gun posts."

The platoon captured a feature forward of Point 209 before having to repel multiple German counter-attacks during the night, during which he was wounded twice - shot in the shoulder and shrapnel in the leg.

He refused to leave his men despite his wounds and, after he had been reinforced in the morning, Ngarimu was killed in another defence of his position. 

The citation says that: "He was killed on his feet defiantly facing the enemy with his tommy-gun at his hip."

Ngarimu's bravery and fortitude played a large part in the surrender of the Germans who were still resisting on Point 209 itself, another success in the offensive in North Africa that turned the tide in the War.