Dunedin Marine Search and Rescue and Water Safety New Zealand certificates were presented to Nick Wells, Simon Smith, Brendan Ford, Cory Ferguson, Micah Wharerimu and Emily Gray.
Senior Constable Wells and Mr Smith received merit awards for their part in a water rescue squad response to a man in distress on a cliff face at the Karitane headland on June 4.
Snr Const Wells was winched to 20m below the trapped man, who lost his hold and fell.
Snr Const Wells grabbed him as he rolled past, sustaining a blow to the face, but the man slipped from his grip and fell into the sea.
The policeman followed, swam to the man and assisted him to shore.
Mr Ferguson and his 15-year-old nephew Micah helped save the lives of their friends who were washed off rocks at Cape Saunders on May 27.
Mr Ferguson received a merit award for instructing Micah to throw a life ring into the water and phone for help, before jumping into the turbulent water and manoeuvering the life ring to the others.
Micah received a certificate of appreciation for his actions, which included driving a car 2km to call police.
Ms Gray got a merit award for rescuing a girl at Ocean View Beach in April.
She was at the beach with her children when she was alerted to people in distress in the water.
All but one made it back to shore, she stripped to her underwear, and swam through difficult surf with a boogie board to support the girl until further assistance arrived.
