WHERE IS THE VETERANS KAWENATA/COVENANT?
Written Parliamentary Questions surrounding the status of the Veterans Kawenata/Covenant were posed by Tim van de Molen to the Minister of Veterans Affairs (Hon Peeni Henare) and the Minister of Defence (Hon Andrew Little). Their response is posted below: Remember Peeni Henare was the previous Minister of Defence and Hon Meka Whaitiri was the Minister for Veterans before she crossed the floor to join the Maori Party.
—– Forwarded message —–
From: Tim van de Molen – Electorate Office
To: Neal Catley
Sent: Monday, 19 June 2023 at 11:41:26 am NZST
Subject: Military Covenant / Kawenata – Written Parliamentary Questions
Good morning Neal,
Trusting this email finds you well.
As mentioned previously, I had said we’d share with you the responses to the Written Parliamentary Questions we asked of the Veterans and Defence Ministers, regarding progress this government had (or hadn’t) made with establishing a Military Covenant or Kawenata. Please find them below:
Reply 14366 (2023) has been answered
Portfolio: Veterans (Hon Peeni Henare)
Question: What is the timeline, if any, for work on a military Kawenata or Covenant to be taken forward together with the Minister of Defence, and what is the timeline, if any, for a military Kawenata or Covenant to be established?
Reply: As a military Kawenata or Covenant is not currently under consideration, there is no timeline for this work.
14366 (2023)
Reply 14174 (2023) has been answered
Portfolio: Veterans (Hon Peeni Henare)
Question: What reports, briefings, memos, aides-memoire, notes or written advice, if any, has the Minister or his predecessor(s) received relating to a military Kawenata or Covenant over the past three years, listed by title and date?
Reply: I am advised the following three briefings were provided to my predecessor by Veterans’ Affairs:
17 December 2020: Proposal for a Military Covenant (Kawenata)
07 May 2021: Dot Point Brief – Background briefing notes for meeting of Minister for Veterans with Minister of Defence 13 May 2021
29 March 2023: Background Material for Discussion with the Minister of Defence: Kawenata and Te Arataki
14174 (2023)
Reply 14178 (2023) has been answered
Portfolio: Defence (Hon Andrew Little)
Question: What communication or discussion, if any, has the Minister or any of his predecessors, had with the current or previous Minister(s) for Veterans regarding a military Kawenata or Covenant; listed by name of Minister and date?
Reply: I have not had any communication or discussion with the current or previous Minister(s) for Veterans regarding a military Kawenata or Covenant.
14178 (2023)
Reply 14177 (2023) has been answered
Portfolio: Defence (Hon Andrew Little)
Question: What reports, briefings, memos, aides-memoire, notes or written advice, if any, has the Minister or his predecessor(s) received relating to a military Kawenata or Covenant over the past three years, listed by title and date?
Reply: I have not received any reports, briefings, memos, aides-memoire, notes, or written advice relating to a military Kawenata or Covenant. I am advised that my predecessor did not receive anything either.
14177 (2023)
Reply 14176 (2023) has been answered
Portfolio: Veterans (Hon Peeni Henare)
Question: What communication or discussion, if any, has the Minister or any of his predecessors, had with the current or previous Minister(s) of Defence regarding a military Kawenata or Covenant; listed by name of Minister and date?
Reply: I refer the member to proactive diary releases to meetings.
14176 (2023)
In a word, under Peeni Henere and Meka Whaitiri’s watch, all New Zealand military veterans have been ‘SHAFTED‘. The way that the Labour Party has and continues to treat New Zealand military veterans is simply APPALLING. So, once again, you the Veteran, have been let down by the Government in power. Over the past 2 1/2 years nothing has progressed. The Hon Meka Whaitiri has had her ‘jolly’ to Gallipolli and apart from that achieved NOTHING in the portfolio. If any one of the NZ Defence Force personnel had performed to this ‘high standard’ they would have been down the road a long time ago. Roll on October, National Party you are on notice.
MINISTER OF DEFENCE. and a Prime Minister
Addressing departing members of the Defense Force on embarkation to an operational area.
DONT worry WE will look after you. Nothing, but words. Nowhere is this statement documented. So therefore they have made a false statement, and can deny it.
I recently watched the movie The Covenant (the theme of which was locals who helped or worked for US military in Afghanistan and those left behind when the US (and other foreign forces) pulled out and the Taliban took over. But that is another story.) At the end of the movie it gave the following as definition of Covenant:
A bond
A pledge
A commitment
It’s a pity that our NZ politicians in particular don’t or can’t be bothered to understand the basic concepts of a covenant as given in that definition. Any chance of the recommendations of the Patterson Report and the subsequent VAB recommendations went down the gurgler in 2020.
It is beyond incredible that New Zealand is the only FIVE EYES country without a military Covenant/Kawenata. Moreover, it is obvious since 2020 this government couldn’t give a BIG RATS backside about furthering the excellent veteran work of Ron Mark [NZF] and his Veterans’ Advisory Board. The government lackadaisical couldn’t care less attitude towards New Zealand military veterans and its service people will surely be a SCAR on the Nation’s history. Here’s hoping with a change of government the New Zealand Military Covenant/Kawenata will be satisfied in a passionate and timely fashion