Five police officers have been recognised with bravery awards for putting their lives on the line to save others during Cyclone Gabrielle.
A number of people were saved from floodwaters in Heretaunga/Hastings, including a four-year-old and an eight-month old.
It's the first time so many officers have received bravery awards in one year.
The recipients of this year's Police Bravery Awards stood side by side after being commended for their heroic efforts during the cyclone.
"They've saved lives and they are so humble about it, describing it as just doing their jobs, it's awesome to see them acknowledged today," said Andrew Coster, police commissioner.
Officers Heath Jones and Jaime Stewart saved a colleague and her two children trapped on their shed roof - while her husband was on duty saving others.
"Heath and Jamie waded through chest high water to reach them," said Anand Satyanand, former Governor-General.
"It was a real moment of realising okay this is serious, something bad could happen, but we're here now and we've got to keep pushing forward," Stewart told Newshub.
Luckily the family was pulled to safety, but then the officers saw an elderly couple nearby, struggling to move in rapidly rising water.
"The officers entered the torrent to get the couple to safety, however the woman could not swim and the man was not a confident swimmer," Satyanand said.
"We approached it with a chipper and she'll be right attitude didn't we, yes a positive attitude!" Jones told Newshub.
Constables Patrick Noiseux, Mark Bancroft and Kurtis Maney all nearly drowned as they fought to get six people into trees and away from surging floodwaters.
"I was fearing for these guys because I saw them getting washed out and I thought I lost them, that's what hit me the most," said Noiseux.
And their tamariki were grateful too.
"I am very proud of my dad," said Noiseux's five-year-old daughter.
"Thank you my girl," he replied.
