Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Bravery recognised at Christchurch remembrance day

Updated at 7:23 pm on 22 February 2012

Bravery and service to the community during and after the Christchurch earthquake have been honoured at a ceremony in the city Wednesday afternoon.

The city itself also received the rare award of the Royal Humane Society's Gold Medal, awarded for the first time in 44 years.

The mayor Bob Parker gave 140 people and organisations Christchurch earthquake awards, in the ceremony at Hagley Park.

One award was given to Joe Pohio, a council worker who died after being crushed by falling rubble as he crouched to help an injured woman.

Other recipients included an Auckland man who fitted out trucks with portable showers and brought them to Christchurch, providing up to 500 showers a day to quake-affected residents.

Also honoured were emergency services and other first responders to the disaster.

A carpenter who rescued three women from the Pyne Gould Corporation building in the Christchurch earthquake says the real heroes are those still fighting injuries, a year on.

Chris Nutfield, of Christchurch, is one of many to receive a bravery and heroism award as thousands remember the deadly quake.

Mr Nutfield met one woman he rescued for the first time today, at the request of her family.

He told Checkpoint it was emotional as he remembered freeing her from inside the pancaked building, which was still moving.

Listen to more on Checkpoint

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