This medal was awarded to the Taranaki Military Settler John Rigby. Rigby later served in the Armed Constabulary and was stationed at Pukearuhe, North Taranaki, during 1883 when he was drowned while trying to lead a group of horses around the coast to Mokau.
The inquest into Rigby's death reported that the horse he was riding became spooked and unexpectedly ran out into the sea, eventually reaching a point beyond return. Rigby tried to lead the horse back to shore when the animal reared and knocked him out, causing him to drown. Following Rigby's death, the point became known as 'Rigby Point'.