The face of the country's only living winner of our highest military award will not feature on a new series of New Zealand Post stamps honouring Victoria Cross winners.
Corporal Willie Apiata was apparently uncomfortable being the only living hero on the series of 22 stamps, the New Zealand Herald reported.
The 60 cent stamps were to feature the faces of all Victoria Cross holders.
The Victoria Cross was instituted by Queen Victoria in 1856 during the Crimean War.
The series of stamps, Victoria Cross - the New Zealand Story, will feature Cpl Apiata's medal rather than his face.
New Zealand Defence Force medals policy adviser Jack Hayes said Cpl Apiata supported honouring VC winners, but felt it was not appropriate for his image to be on a postage stamp.
Apiata won his VC for carrying a wounded comrade to safety after his troop was attacked by rebel soldiers in Afghanistan in 2007.
He was under heavy fire as he hoisted the wounded soldier onto his back and ran through withering fire to safety. His heroism saved the badly wounded soldier's life.
