Te Tairawhiti MP, Tuariki Delamere, said today he was deeply disappointed the Government had again declined to award a posthumous Victoria Cross to Lance-Sergeant Haane Manahi.

"I believe today's announcement of a New Zealand honours system for bravery would have been the proper time for this long-standing injustice to have been righted," he said.

"I have carefully examined the reasons given by the Prime Minister for the decision, but I find I cannot agree with them.

"Why did we bother to go to all the trouble of setting up a New Zealand-based honours system, only then to find we still have to crawl back to Britain when we want to award a medal?

"When are we ever going to break away from the apron strings of Britain in these matters?" said Mr Delamere.

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