WHO IS A NEW ZEALAND MILITARY VETERAN?
It is common knowledge in the United Kingdom [UK] military veterans are anyone who has served for at least one day in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces (Regular or Reserve) or Merchant Mariners who have seen duty in legally defined military operations. It surprises me why the Minister for Veterans does not adopt the UK policy for New Zealand ex-service people. The cost to the government is negligible as a veteran would need either Qualifying Routine Service [QRS] or Qualifying Operational Service [QOS] for any military benefit and entitlement. Also, a veteran must meet the individual requirements for each service or entitlement.
In summary, any person joining the New Zealand Defence Force [NZDF] and leaving following a brief service period should not, under QRS or QOS, be eligible for any military benefit or entitlement. Notwithstanding that, all who served should formally be recognised as veterans as they took the oath or affirmation of allegiance to New Zealand upon joining the NZDF. Also, by doing this, regardless of age, they accepted at any time in their service, they would risk their lives to keep the Nation and its interests safe and secure.
Come on, New Zealand, let’s formally call all those who served VETERANS!
Furthermore, Neal Catly wrote this comment!
Ron Mark, the Minister for Veterans [MfV] under the Labour/New Zealand First coalition government [2017 -2020], supported the Veterans Advisory Board [VAB] recommendation that all who served should formally be recognised as veterans. To cut to the nut, because of the seemingly lackadaisical attitude of the MfV’s who followed Ron Mark, this matter floats around in slack water, which is a travesty. ALL WHO SERVED IN THE NZDF SHOULD BE VETERANS. The cure! Get it done!
Thank to Neal for all this information about exactly what is a NZ veteran.
So I thought I would just check and see our Australia treats there folk seeing I live here.
This is a short extract of how Australia treats their servicemen and women (*serving or ex)
“In Australia, a veteran is defined as anyone who has served or is currently serving in the Australian Defence Force (ADF), including permanent and reserve members. This definition was agreed upon by the Veterans Ministers’ Roundtable in 2017.
The definition of a veteran also includes certain civilians and people who were not members of the ADF but still meet the criteria. For example, people who performed part-time service in the Citizens’ Military Forces, Volunteer Defence Corps, or Royal Australian Air Force Reserve during World War II are considered veterans.
People who served in the ADF are eligible for certain benefits, including:
Australian Defence Veterans’ Covenant: Available to permanent members and reservists
Veteran White Card: Available to current and former full-time members of the ADF, including reservists who have served at least one day of continuous full-time service ”
So just why does the Defence force and Government continually drag their heels about recognising our servicing and ex servicemen and women- its a bit like the medallic situation all over again.
Re the continuing bloody saga of “who is a Veteran” aka NZ Defence Forces. To date I have seen only one comment of any real guts from our fellow navy commisioned ranks and that is from Neal Catley. About time more of our NZDF senior officer types got involved- that’s if they havnt all snuffed it! Talk about ‘”follow thy leader” what bloody leader?, ..
Neill, sadly, your last paragraph is correct. The thorny issue is that New Zealand has been without a proactive ‘Minister for Veterans’ since 2020. A few days ago, I sent the few groups below to the South East Asia Veterans Association. This ongoing saga reminds me of an old Chinese saying: ‘When peeing into the wind – you better have a big umbrella.’ However, to reach NIRVANA, we must replace the umbrella with a humungous, strong tarpaulin! There is surely a silver lining along this rocky road – let’s hope it appears sooner rather than later.
Apolitical Comment by Neal Catley
Ron Mark, the Minister for Veterans [MfV] under the Labour/New Zealand First coalition government [2017 -2020], supported the Veterans Advisory Board [VAB] recommendation that all who served should formally be recognised as veterans. To cut to the nut, because of the seemingly lackadaisical attitude of the MfV’s who followed Ron Mark, this matter floats around in slack water, which is a travesty.
ALL WHO SERVED IN THE NZDF SHOULD BE VETERANS. The cure! Get it done!
Jeeeeezuzzzz bloody wept!!!Can we not get some responsible nutter still serving preferably on Naval Staffto put pen to paperand start the ball rolling . Otherwise all this griping on the bloody sideline won’t get us any where!!