A young man who jumped into Auckland harbour to save a woman drowning off Queen's Wharf has had his bravery recognised at a ceremony today.

Harrison Sage, 20, of Ellerslie, was one of four civilians and 48 police officers to receive commendations at the Auckland District Police biannual medal and awards ceremony at Auckland's Town Hall this morning.

Mr Sage was awarded the certificate of appreciation by the Auckland District Commander for helping to save the life of a woman who ended up in Auckland harbour in April last year.

Mr Sage and a group of friends had been at a John Mayer concert and were about to head to the city for a night out when they saw a woman nearby was in the water.

He and a friend ran over to see if the woman was alright and saw she was struggling.

Mr Sage said "nothing" went through his mind when he realised she needed help, he just reacted.

"I've been surf lifesaving since I was 7, so seeing someone in water, it's not really a big deal.

"[It was] something I had seen before so I just thought I would jump in."

After swimming to the woman, Mr Sage brought them both to a ladder, then threw the woman over his shoulder and climbed up onto land, where police and other emergency services were waiting.

From there emergency services took over, he said, and he had not heard about the woman since.

"I don't even know her name."

Even though surf lifesaving helped him react quickly, he thought most people would do the same.

"In that situation it's something anyone would do," Mr Sage said.

Mr Sage's father, Allan Sage, said he was proud of his son, but his actions had not surprised him.

"He was trained as a surf lifesaver so it didn't at all surprise me because that's what they do, you know."

Mother Teri Sage was also "very, very proud" of her son and said attending today's ceremony was an amazing experience.

"It was a bit of a blubber moment.

"The ceremony was just incredible because there were so many ordinary people doing amazing things," she said.

Engaged couple Kirsten Ritchie and Jared Wooff were two of the other 'ordinary people' recognised at today's ceremony for their efforts to help save the life of an unresponsive man in Mt Wellington last December.

Andrew Tsang was the final civilian awarded the certificate of appreciation today, for the support he gave an elderly Chinese woman after she and her husband were struck by a car in Royal Oak.

Mr Tsang comforted the woman and went with her to hospital, where he helped with translation. The woman's husband later died in hospital.