The helicopter crews who risked their lives to save people injured in the Whakaari eruption are being awarded the country's highest bravery honours.
The national air ambulance service deemed landing on the island too dangerous when the volcano erupted in 2019, but four commercial helicopters went anyway.
Within 40 minutes, the seven pilots had rescued 12 injured people; just two of them would later survive.
Mark Law, who was the first on the scene, is being awarded the New Zealand Bravery Star. Tom Storey and Jason Hill, Tim Barrow, Graeme Hopcroft, Callum Mill, and Sam Jones are getting the New Zealand Bravery Decoration.
Law spoke to Māni Dunlop.
