The Tauranga Police officer who leapt from a bridge into the dark waters of Tauranga Harbour to save a crash survivor last year is being honoured with a bravery award.

Senior Constable Deane O'Connor will receive a New Zealand Police Association Bravery Award, which will be presented to him by Prime Minister John Key at the association's 79th annual conference in Wellington.

Senior Constable Deane O'Connor will be awarded a New Zealand Police Association Bravery Award.

Deane was one of the first officers at the scene of the fatal crash last August, which killed driver Greg Woledge, on the Maungatapu Bridge.

Without hesitation, he stripped down to his underwear before jumping into freezing waters to save 23-year-old passenger Ashley Donkersley when it crashed through the barrier and into the harbour.

The Police Association Bravery Awards are unique in that they represent recognition of an outstanding act of bravery by an officer's peers.

'Senior Constable O'Connor showed extraordinary courage in leaping from a bridge, at nightfall, into the dark waters of Tauranga to rescue crash survivor Ashley Donkersley,” says Police Association president Greg O'Connor.

'Mr Donkersley was unresponsive when Mr O'Connor reached him. The police officer kept himself and Mr Donkersley afloat for more than half an hour, alone in the cold and dark, and out of sight of any other potential rescuers, before managing to make shore, where he collapsed due to the cold and exhaustion.”

Greg says Deane's actions exemplified the traditions and highest ideals of policing. His decision to leap into the water, without hesitation, unquestionably saved the life of Ashley.

'It's this act of extraordinary bravery for which he is being honoured by his peers with a New Zealand Police Association Bravery Award,” he says.

'A New Zealand Police Association Bravery Award is the highest honour the Police Association can bestow on its members to recognise such extraordinary acts.

'It's fitting that the award is presented by New Zealand's Prime Minister, as the highest representative of the society police are sworn to protect.”