Veterans Affairs – 80th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War
Today marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day – Victory in Europe Day – and that this day marks the end of the Second World War in Europe. Later that year the war would also come to an end in the Asia Pacific region with Japan’s surrender on 15 August 1945. The Second World War saw New Zealanders contribute their greatest national effort — on land, on the sea and in the air — a war that New Zealanders fought globally, from Egypt, Italy and Greece to Southeast Asia and the Pacific. By the end of the war, around 140,000 New Zealanders had served in military forces overseas, close to 12,000 had lost their lives, and 9,000 had been prisoners of war. Many more New Zealanders served on the home front. Lest we forget.
The Second World War saw New Zealanders contribute their greatest national effort — on land, on the sea and in the air — a war that New Zealanders fought globally, from Egypt, Italy and Greece to Southeast Asia and the Pacific. By the end of the war, around 140,000 New Zealanders had served in military forces overseas, close to 12,000 had lost their lives, and 9,000 had been prisoners of war. Many more New Zealanders served on the home front. Lest we forget.
| Sunset Remembrance Ceremony at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park to mark the 80th anniversary of the End of the Second World War in Europe (VE Day) this evening 8 May 2025. Te Tai Tokerau | Northland Veterans’ Forum We’ll be in Kerikeri on 28 May for our Te Tai Tokerau | Northland Veterans’ Forum. It’s being held at the Turner Centre, 43 Cobham Road, Kerikeri from 10am – 2pm, we’ll be there to meet with veterans and their whānau from Te Tai Tokerau | Northland region. This forum is free to attend and is an opportunity for New Zealand veterans to meet with staff from Veterans’ Affairs to discuss entitlements and other support options for themselves or their family. Find out more and to register your attendance here. Click here to see what a forum look like. Auckland case management clinics We’ll be in Auckland on 20 May for two case management clinics. There will be a morning session at Ranfurly Veterans Centre and an afternoon session at the Manurewa RSA. If you would like to talk to one of our case managers about your claims, entitlements, services or support face-to-face, this is the perfect opportunity. Limited appointments are available so bookings are essential. To find out more or book an appointment at Ranfurly Veterans Centre click here, or to book an appointment at the Manurewa RSA click here. Help us reach more eligible veterans We would really like to reach more eligible veterans to let them know about the support that they may be entitled to. If you know of someone who is a veteran and they aren’t in contact with us, please encourage them to make contact with Veterans’ Affairs. They can call us at 0800 483 8372or register on our website www.veteransaffairs.mil.nz, or perhaps subscribe to this email newsletter email newsletter. It really helps us and we might be able to help your friend. Dunedin forum Last Thursday we held our Dunedin forum and met with veterans and their families from across Otago and Southland. Despite the cold wind and rain, we had veterans travel from Bluff, Invercargill, Oamaru and many places in between. We had a great time meeting our veterans from the south and are looking forward to meeting with our veterans in the north in few weeks’ time. Check out some photos from the day here. Anzac Day Amendment Bill is open for public submissions On 3 April, an amendment bill to update the Anzac Day Act 1966 passed its first reading in Parliament. The 1966 Act recognises and commemorates all those who served in six named conflicts from the war in South Africa through to the Vietnam conflict, including the Anzac Day landings in Gallipoli in the First World War. If enacted, the Bill will also become an anniversary of remembrance for all those who served New Zealand in wars and warlike situations both before Vietnam and in the many decades that have followed, and which may follow in the future. It will also include those who have given non-military service, such as the Home Guard and members of the Merchant Navy. A joint press release by the Minister for Culture and Heritage and the Minister for Veterans, Hon Chris Penk, can be found on the Beehive here. Make a submission The Anzac Day Amendment Bill is now on the Parliamentary website. The public is invited to make submissions to the Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade Select Committee.Submissions close on 22 May 2025. View the Bill and make a submission here. The Veterans’ Affairs Magazine The latest magazine is available to read online now, you can read it here. For those who receive the magazine by post, it will be in your mailbox towards the end of May. |