Warrant Officer Kevin Yorwarth
Distinguished Service Decoration
KEY POINTS:
"I was just doing my job," says a soldier whose actions during political riots in Tonga last year have been recognised by the Government.
Warrant Officer Class One Kevin Andrew Yorwarth has been awarded the New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration in the New Year Honours list today for his services to the New Zealand Defence Force.
Warrant Officer Yorwarth said it was "very humbling", and unexpected, to receive the award.
"It is not something you think about when you are doing it ... I believed I was just doing my job as anyone in the defence force would."
On November 16 last year, a group broke off from a political reform rally in the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa and started pelting the Prime Minister's office with rocks.
The mob then turned their attention to Prime Minister Feleti Sevele's family-owned supermarket and other businesses, stripping them of goods and setting them alight. Shops and businesses owned by Chinese were particular targets.
Warrant Officer Yorwarth was the only New Zealand soldier in Tonga at the time. He was technical adviser (mechanical) to the Tongan Defence Services - assisting in training, workshops and equipment matters.
But when the riots broke out he volunteered his services to the New Zealand High Commission.
Warrant Officer Yorwarth said that although it was not in his job description, part of being in the Army was assisting people.
After moving his family to a safe location, he said, he assisted the high commission by being its "practical boy".
He helped by doing security checks and evacuating staff from the high commission, which was in danger of being attacked and looted.
Warrant Officer Yorwarth assisted the Consular Office in negotiating with a group of Chinese people wanting to come into the high commission, he said.
The whole situation was stressful but not in a bad way - "it was just different".
"Probably the biggest stress is the fact that you are pretty much by yourself and you are not really sure what is still going on."
Warrant Officer Yorwarth said the rioting started on a Thursday night and other New Zealand Defence Force personnel did not arrive in Tonga until the Saturday.
The 42-year-old has been in the Army for 26 years and started out as a cadet. His two-year deployment in Tonga ends in two weeks and his next deployment is in Palmerston North.
He said the job still keeps his interest.
- NZPA
