380th Anniversary of the end of WWII Pacific
4Wai 2500
6Vietnam Veterans’ Day
7 Veterans’ A airs Summary report from 2024/25
10 Twenty years in Sudan
1216th Field Regiment Anniversary
13 Case Management Clinics and Forums
14Case Manager’s role
16 Battlefield Tours
17Desert Road
18Financial Services and Support for Veterans Commemorative Project Fund
19The Quiet Warning Lights
20 Processing times
Welcome to spring!
There have been a number of important anniversaries since the last issue of our magazine was sent out to you. Most importantly, we’ve had the opportunity to reflect on the recent past, with the 80th Anniversary of VE Day (Victory in Europe), and VJ Day (Victory over Japan). I have also been privileged to attend the Vietnam Veterans Day commemoration at Pukeahu National Memorial Park on 18 August – and to hear the stories told during the Wai 2500 Military Veterans Kaupapa Inquiry at Waiouru and Ohakea. All these events have brought home to me very clearly what service is all about. It is unique. It involves things like selfsacrifice, confronting ethical dilemmas, and facing the depths of what humans can do to each other. Sometimes there is mental or physical injury. And always, elements of service impact on those held dear, including family and whānau. Here at Veterans’ A airs, we understand that this is what makes all of you special and makes it a privilege for us to serve you. In this issue we hear about service in the Sudan from COL Mel Childs. You can read her story on page 10.
update Anzac Day legislation and ensure that those who have served since the conflict in Vietnam – who are not at present covered – will also be recognised on this special day.
Recently Veterans’ A airs celebrated reducing our claims backlog – it had been as high as 2800 in April 2024 and is now (in September 2025) down below 1800 (the tables on page 20 are to 30 June 2025). It is very important to us that we action your claims, and get you the support you need, as quickly as we can, so this is good news, and I’m proud of the hardworking Veterans’ A airs sta who have got us there. We’re looking to improve things even further.
Me rongo,
Alexander Brunt Acting Head of Veterans’ A airs
About The Veterans’ A airs Magazine
The Veterans’ A airs magazine is published by Veterans’ A airs – Te Tira Ahu Ika A Whiro. To the best of our knowledge the content in this magazine is accurate. The views expressed in Veterans’ A airs are not necessarily those of Veterans’ A airs or the New Zealand Defence Force.
If this magazine has been sent to the wrong address or if you no longerwant to receive this can you please email veterans@nzdf.mil.nz to let us know the correct address or to have it stopped being delivered.
ISSN 2816-1327
Cover image: Wai2500, Te Turangawaewae o Te Tauaarangi O Aotearoa, Ohakea Airbase
Photographer: Naomi Campbell.
veterans@nzdf.mil.nz
0800 483 8372
(Freephone New Zealand)
1800 483 837 (Freephone Australia)
+64 4 495 2070 (rest of world)
Sudan is not the only country consumed by conflict at the moment, and in the absence of peace, people will continue to be called to serve. Our job is to support them in every way we can.
You may have seen a news item on our website about a new piece of legislation which the Minister for Veterans, Hon Chris Penk, has been working on – the Veterans’ Recognition Bill. This was recently introduced to Parliament and in due course, people will be invited to make submissions to Parliament with their views about what is being proposed. We’ll let you know when submissions have been called for, and we encourage you to have your say. Another bill which is relevant to veterans has also been going through Parliament recently – the Anzac Day Amendment Bill. Veterans’ A airs has been supporting the select committee as it looks at this bill which is aiming to
We are sorry to advise our loyal readers that we will be ceasing publication of the Veterans' A airs Magazine next year, with the last issue coming to you in April 2026. This decision has been made because of the ever-increasing cost of postage and distribution. But you can still keep in touch with Veterans' A airs and the veteran community. We suggest you subscribe to our monthly email newsletter at this link, www.va.mil.nz/newsletter. That way you'll always be up-to-date with all of our news.
On Friday 15 August, a remembrance ceremony took place at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington, to mark the 80 th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in the Pacific.
Japan's Emperor Hirohito announced the surrender of Imperial Japan on August 15, 1945, following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the Soviet Union's declaration of war. New Zealanders celebrate this as VJ Day (Victory over Japan Day).
The formal signing of the Instrument of Surrender took place on September 2, 1945, onboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.
Last month marked the final Crown hearing week of the first stage of the Waitangi Tribunal’s Military Veterans Kaupapa Inquiry (Wai 2500) which took place at Te Turangawaewae o Te Tauaarangi O Aotearoa, Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Base Ohakea.
The purposes of the Kaupapa Inquiry, in addition to determining the Treaty consistency of Crown conduct, is also to prepare an o cial narrative that will put Māori experiences of military service for the Crown on public record, and consider how to improve our support for veterans and current serving personnel, as well as their whānau.
Stage 1 covered military service undertaken for the Crown after the Second World War. This includes the Korean War, South-East Asia, Vietnam, Operation Grapple and Pilaster along with contemporary deployments such as East Timor and Afghanistan. It also looked at contemporary policy and practice within the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF).
Of the seven hearings, the first four (beginning in June 2023) were for veterans and their whānau (the Claimants) to tell the Tribunal of their issues including discrimination, recognition, inadequate care, inappropriate cultural practices and di culties accessing support.
These were then followed by three hearing weeks related to the Crown’s evidence, as well as to outline current policy and practice in relation to concerns previously raised by Māori ex-service people and their whānau.
The Crown hearings were held were held at Te Rongomaraeroa-o-nga-hau-e-wha Marae in Waiouru, Te Taua Moana Marae in Devonport and finally at the Air Force’s Turangawaewae in Ohakea
Chief of Army Major General Rose King was responsible for overseeing the Crown’s response, with LTCOL Martin Dransfield the Wai 2500 Project Director. He believes that the three hearing weeks hosted by the services were very important to the claimants.
“The hearings were for the Crown to present their evidence, but they provided the opportunity for the Claimants to seek clarification regarding the historical research papers and briefs, support to veterans, and bicultural policy and practice.”
Each hearing built on the previous.
“In Waiouru Veterans’ A airs presented the current policy and practice in relation to veterans, and to describe the operations that Māori service people have undertaken, with a focus on the psychological impacts and the developments in supporting our people.”
“The second hearing focussed on research into the likely exposure of Māori veterans to toxic environments, including on Operations Grapple and Pilaster, and to the defoliants in Vietnam.”
“It also covered the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Vietnam veterans and the Crown, and the work that is going into support the MoU.”
“Finally, in Ohakea, Veterans’ A airs sta presented and talked about what case management and rehabilitation entails, along with how Veterans’ A airs provides practical support through the Veterans Support Centre and determine claims. Veterans’ A airs sta also gave evidence on other days. They covered topics including how government agencies work with each other, and the use of dibutyl phthalate.”
Also, each service described the development of their bicultural policy and their bicultural journey.
“At the end of their respective hearing weeks, each service described the development of their bicultural policy, practice and aspirations.”
The Tribunal was seeking to determine if breaches of Te Tiriti have taken place, and just like the Claimant Counsel, they also cross-examined the Crown witnesses.
“Their questions about our bicultural policies and practices were, on occasion, challenging, but the tribunal was also very impressed with our bicultural practices and our commitment to tikanga.”
“We are proud of the work we have done, and are continuing to do in the bicultural space to make sure the NZDF of today is doing everything we can to look after all our people, but we haven’t finished.
We are constantly seeking a better understanding of how we can serve our people and the wider NZDF family better, and this Inquiry is helping us in that regard.”
“To reach this point in the Kaupapa Inquiry is significant, and I acknowledge all the e ort that’s gone into this process from veterans, current serving personnel, their whānau and counsel – it’s been a long journey.”
Head of Veterans’ A airs, Mr Alexander Brunt agrees that the hearings were very important for the claimants.
“The hearings for Veterans’ A airs provide us an opportunity to listen, reflect on Claimant issues, and where possible, see what we can do to support. It was also an opportunity at Ohakea to register as many serving members as we could via the Veterans’ A airs stand, which we setup along with Force Financial Hub.”
“It is important that issues get aired. These hearings provide claimants an opportunity to impress on the Crown their lived experience and for the Crown to get the chance to reflect on where we have come from, where we are now, and where we need to be for Māori who serve in the NZDF. “
Mr Brunt also believes that the hearings were good for the wider veteran community.
“Wai2500 asked wide ranging questions about support for veterans in New Zealand. They looked into the support veterans received when they leave NZDF, that they receive from the NGO sector and from other Government agencies.”
More information about Wai2500 can be found here
www.nzdf.mil.nz/ media-centre/storycollections/wai-2500military-veteranskaupapa-inquiry/
Vietnam Veterans, their whanau and dignitaries commemorated the Vietnam War on the 18 August at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park.
Vietnam Veterans’ Day is commemorated on 18 August each year in New Zealand and Australia. On 18 August 1966, New Zealand’s 161 Battery gunners and Australian infantrymen fought together in the Battle of Long Tan.
Dellwyn Moylan, of Ashburton, knitted a scarf for a friend in the NZ Army and then she wondered if it could take on a larger meaning. Dellwyn had been thinking about the significant military events being commemorated in 2025 and how she might be able to acknowledge these.
“In 2025 it will have been 80 years since end of the Second World War, 75 years since the start of Korean War, 65 years since the end of the Malay Emergency and 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War, and I wanted to honour those living who served in these wars.”
“During the Second World War my Dad and uncles who were in service appreciated the knitted goods they received from home. My Mum, talked about knitting for the troops overseas during that war.’’
“I launched ‘Operation Wrapped in Remembrance’ to honour those who have served our country”.
Dellwyn and volunteers began knitting for veterans. Some RSAs have distributed scarves to veterans, and they’re also being given out at events like the recent Vietnam Veterans’ Day in Wellington and the RNZAF 80th anniversary in Christchurch next month. "The Veterans have really appreciated the scarves and the fact they are still remembered for their service.”
The project runs until Armistice Day 2025. You can follow Delwyn and Operation Wrapped in Remembrance on their Facebook page.
Our goals are to support eligible New Zealand veterans with service-related health conditions, build on partnerships to provide greater support for the veterans’ sector, and honour veterans’ service. The following tables show how we are meeting our goals.
In the last 12 months we supported more than 25,000 clients and their whanau. More than 10,000 clients received payments from us. In total we paid out over $142 million in entitlements.
*VIP Services are the Veterans’ Independence Programme Services. They are a set of home assistance services, including lawn mowing and exterior house cleans. These services are not health or rehabilitation services.
**Discretionary VIP Services are available to a specific group of veterans who are 80 years of age or older or have a terminal condition without a health condition related to their service.
The top conditions that were claimed for in the Financial Year 24/25
Veterans’ A airs recognize many service-related health conditions. The top 5 groupings of health conditions that we supported last year are listed below.
How well do we look after our clients?
Our clients gave us an approval rating of 95% in our annual independent client satisfaction survey. The Veterans’ A airs Client Satisfaction Survey 2024/25 can be viewed at www.va.mil.nz/satisfaction-surveys.
The Rehabilitation Team created and approved 6,419 treatment plans in the last financial year and they work with 155 veterans who receive weekly compensation.
How well are we engaging with the veteran sector?
Through the events of our outreach programme, our website, social media, magazine and email newsletter we aim to reach and engage with eligible veterans to ensure that they know what support that Veterans ‘s A airs can o er. In the 2023/24 Financial Year:
• We met face-to-face with more than 700 veterans and their whānau who came to our veteran support outreach events (our forums and case manager clinics).
• We received over 729 registrations from veterans who had not previously contacted us.
• We email 15,000 people each month with our email newsletter, and this list grew by 1,500 over the last year.
•Our Veterans’ A airs magazine is distributed to more than 13,000 recipients.
Approved and decline rates
This graph shows the rates of claims that have been approved and declined between 2012 and 2024. Since the passing of the Veterans Support Act 2014, the trend shows increasing rates of approvals.
Building on partnerships for greater e ect
In 2025, Veterans' A airs signed a memorandum of understanding with the Te Puna ora O Mataatua which provides integrated health, medical, social, and employment services in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. Honoring their service
Veterans' A airs continues to support veterans wishing to attend international and domestic commemorations. In 2024/25 we approved 105 applications to the Commemorative Fund for commemorative travel and we distributed more than $160,200.
Veterans' A airs also approved 31 applications to the Commemorative Fund for projects – distributing $68,694.89.
Veterans’ A airs also sent out over 1,000 Veterans’ Pins and Certificates of Appreciation.
Since 2005, the New Zealand Defence Force has been supporting the United Nations peacekeeping missions in Sudan, both before and after the country's independence.
Prior to South Sudan's independence, the NZDF contributed personnel to the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) from 2005 to 2011. UNMIS was established following a peace agreement between the Sudanese government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement.
Following South Sudan's independence in 2011, New Zealand has supported the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
COL Mel Childs served in South Sudan between March and October 2016. Initially as Senior National O cer and the Deputy Chief Plans (U5) in the Force HQ. During the Juba crisis in July 2016, she took over the role of Chief Plans O cer in response to the security situation.
The rotation to South Sudan was the first time the NZDF had permitted females to deploy to South Sudan since the initial deployments to UNMIS in 2005. COL Childs was joined on this deployment by Major Wendy Wright and Major Fraser Winskill.
She describes the situation in South Sudan as having ebbs and flows between famine, flooding and fighting, mixed in with a challenging security, economic and humanitarian environment.
The Juba crisis of 2016 was a series of clashes in South Sudan capital, Juba between rival factions of the Sudan People's Liberation Army.
Hundreds of South Sudanese were killed during this crisis. It included torture and abuse by government troops and the use of mortars, artillery fire, attack helicopters, tanks and rocket propelled grenades from both sides.
Caught in the crossfire were thousands of displaced civilian refugees living in camps around the United Nations Headquarters.
Two UN Peacekeepers were killed inside the compound during the fighting. For her actions during the Juba crisis COL Childs received the Defence Meritorious Service Medal.
According to witness reports, COL Childs kept her cool and showed considerable courage and leadership directing infantry and police units that were in disarray. She remained with the civilian refugees and eventually leading them to areas that o ered greater protection. Her conduct during this period also received high praise from the Head of the Special Investigation Team sent by the UN SecretaryGeneral to investigate the incident.
Despite the living the conditions and political environment, COL Childs said she was constantly struck by the resilience of the South Sudanese people, particularly the children.
“As a mother it would amaze me how the South Sudanese children found joy in the smallest of things”.
Former members of the 16th Field Regiment and all Korean War veterans are invited to celebrate the formation of the Regiment on Thursday 4 December, at Linton Military Camp. The Regiment was born in 1950 in response to the Korean conflict. Over 4,720 o cers and soldiers from NZ served in Korea, with many coming from the 16th Field Regiment.
We invite all Korean War veterans, both Gunners and non-Gunners alike to attend.
Thursday, 4 December 2025 10:45am to 2:30pm Linton Military Camp.
If you would like to attend please register by emailing Second Lieutenant Lewis Dellabarca before Tuesday 4 November 2025, Lewis.Dellabarca@nzdf.mil.nz
Tues Sep 23
Kapiti Case Management Clinic
Paraparaumu Memorial Hall 10A Aorangi Road Paraparaumu 10:00am – 3:30pm
Tuesday 14 October Venue TBC Invercargill Case Management Clinic
Oct
Auckland Case Management Clinic
Tuesday 21 October Ranfurly Village 539 Mt Albert Road, Three Kings
Friday 5 December Gisborne Showgrounds Fri Dec
We will update our website www.veteransa airs.mil.nz when we have more information about the venues and times of these clinics or forums, and we’ll publish the details in our monthly email newsletter. You can subscribe to that here https://www.veteransa airs.mil.nz/news-events/sign-up-to-our-newsletter/
Tairāwhiti Gisborne Veterans Forum
“The most ful lling aspect of being a case manager is helping a veteran achieve their goals, overcome challenges, and improve their quality of life.”
Te Rena Williams Senior Case Manager
Te Rena has been a Case Manager at Veterans’ A airs for over 5 years. She is one of three Senior Case Managers. Each Case Manager have a caseload of veterans, and those veterans have a health condition or conditions linked to their service. “Our role is to ensure they are receiving appropriate entitlements as outlined in legislation” says Te Rena. Some veterans have complex situations, “We need to listen, problem solve, advocate for our veterans and connect them to supports and solutions”. A Case Manager’s day is fast-paced and varied. It might involve catching up with veterans and writing contact-notes, undertaking assessments, developing treatment, vocational and rehabilitation plans, meeting with rehabilitation, treatment and service providers and resolving treatment queries.
Te Rena says that Case Managers need to have a good understanding of Veterans’ A airs policies, so they can answer a range of questions from veterans. “A close relationship with other government organisations as well as our own rehabilitation team, treatment, medical and community providers is needed to ensure we’re all working together. To meet the needs of our veterans and their whānau” says Te Rena.
Each case manager looks after between 200-300 veterans and those veterans have a range of health conditions and requirements. There is also a range of ages. Te Rena has worked with veterans in their 20s and with those over 100 years of age.
“The most fulfilling aspect of being a case manager is helping a veteran achieve their goals, overcome challenges, and improve their quality of life.”
Te Rena loves the conversations and relationships she gets to build with veterans and their whānau.
“My veterans have all left something with me. They have all had a very deep and meaningful impact on me.”
The NZDF is now using lessons from New Zealand’s own turbulent past to help prepare modern-day personnel to meet the challenges of the future.
Te Kura o Ngā Pakanga o Aotearoa –the New Zealand Wars Study Centre (NZWSC) – has developed a series of learning activities focussing on the New Zealand Wars of 1845-72. The activities include battlefield tours, where students can walk the ground and visualise the events that occurred there.
The NZWSC Director, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Taylor, found case studies of warfare in New Zealand’s own history.
“The New Zealand Wars provide many valuable lessons that continue to resonate today.”
All NZWSC sta are recognised authorities on the New Zealand Wars, and as serving Army o cers they can highlight the military dimension of the Wars in a way that improves the learning experience for students.
A feature of the Centre’s approach is the way sta adapt the subject matter to meet the student’s needs.
“For example, we can interpret the Waikato War (1863-64) to help junior personnel understand minor tactics and junior command and leadership; and much more senior Command and Sta College students to understand joint planning, coalition warfare and strategic-level decision-making.” Says Lieutenant Colonel Taylor.
“We emphasise aspects such as logistics, intelligence and littoral warfare, as appropriate. This means that a serviceperson could look at the same battle or campaign several times throughout their career and learn something new and relevant each time.”
Lieutenant Colonel Taylor recognises that the subject matter can be confronting for many personnel – particularly as every group will include descendants of those who fought each other during the Wars. As such, he said the Centre focusses on describing and analysing what happened, and why, and without judgement of those involved.
In 2024, a group of veterans got together to play music and inspire veterans and they became “Desert Road”.
Roddy floated the idea of a veterans band to fellow veterans Tama and Vance in mid- 2024. Once onboard they advertised for more veterans to join. By September the band was complete with Roddy, Tama, Vance, Kate, and Tony and Desert Road played their first gig in December. They play classic rock, retro hits, country favourites, Kiwi anthems and feel-good songs – music that gets toes tapping and people up on the dance floor. Since their formation Desert Road has played at venues well-known to veterans and the serving community, including Linton and Trentham WOs’ and SNCOs’ Messes, the Ashhurst RSA on Anzac Day, a 50th birthday for a fellow veteran, a gig at Trentham Rugby league club and a 60th at Southward Car Museum. They also opened for the New Zealand Army Band at the 2025 Forces in the Park.
Connect with Desert Road on Facebook or scan the QR code, and if you want to discuss a booking with them email desertroado cial@gmail.com
Desert Road’s mission is to support and inspire fellow veterans through music. They raise funds and awareness for veterans and the challenges they face. Recently the band donated $1,000 to the Families of the Fallen Charitable Trust and to SSAANZ.
Tony Spice describes their music as a way of continuing to serve.
“We want to connect with veterans through music, telling stories, uplifting veterans and making a di erence.”
Desert Road might not always be a covers band.
“We would also like to make our own music in the future. Songs inspired by our service, from our lived experiences and sense of purpose.”
Check out their Facebook page to see if they are playing near you.
NZDF’s Force Financial Hub provides veterans, ex-serving personnel, and their family members with tailored financial o ers, products and services designed to make life a little easier after service.
One key o ering is the Funeral Plan, available to members ages 50 and above through the Member Insurance Benefits Programme (MIBP). This plan provides peace of mind by helping cover funeral expenses and easy the financial burden on families during a di cult time.
Veterans can also access the InForce Domestic Insurance Scheme through Tower, which provides discounted home, contents, vehicle, landlord and boat cover. Policies are tailored to the Defence community, with benefits such as 10% discount of premiums making it a practical choice for veterans and their family members. This o er is available to friends of NZDF veterans, ex-serving personnel, and their families as well.
Financial guidance is also within reach thanks to Become Wealth, the NZDF’s preferred financial advice provider. Veterans can receive free general advice and heavily discounted financial planning packages, ensuring expert help is available without the usual high cost.
Finally, through Perpetual Guardian, Veterans are entitled to a free will service, helping ensure their wishes are properly recorded and legally protected. Discounts for Powers of Attorney and Estate Administration services are also available too.
If you have any questions around these o ers, please visit www.force4families.mil. nz/force-financial-hub/ or email benefits@nzdf.mil.nz
The Veterans’ A airs Commemorative Fund is for New Zealand veterans to commemorate their Qualifying Operational Service.
In the 12 months to the end of June 2025, the fund paid out over $160,000 in travel funding and enabled more than 105 veterans to commemorative their service.
The Commemorative Fund can also provide commemorative project funding to community groups around New Zealand. Projects that recognise veterans’ service or sacrifice.
They can include public memorials, research publications or books about a deployment and reunions. In the last 12 months the fund contributed $70,000 towards these projects.
Veterans can apply for funds to revisit their place of Qualifying Operational Service or to attend a reunion or commemoration either here in New Zealand or overseas. Recently we helped 19 veterans travel to Christchurch to attend the End of Air Engineers’ Brevet reunion.
Each veteran with Qualifying Operational Service is entitled to either:
• $2,500 worth of funding, or
• $2,000 if they received their full entitlements before 1 July 2016 – when the maximum claimable was $1,800.
If you’re a veteran with QOS or you think that your project will be something that the fund can support, checkout the Veterans’ A airs website for more information www. va.mil.nz/a-z/commemorativeproject-contribution
LTCOL Stephen Kearney
We’re often taught to look for the loud, obvious signs of a mental health struggle, like explosive anger or deep sadness. But sometimes the most important warning lights are much quieter— subtle shifts in ourselves or our mates that are too easily dismissed as just “part of life.”
Here are a few common signs that are easy to miss:
Is a mate constantly complaining about being exhausted, even after a full night’s sleep? Or are they dealing with nagging aches, frequent headaches, or gut issues with no clear physical cause? When the mind is carrying a heavy, sustained load, the body often bears the brunt. It’s your system’s way of signalling the load.
Pay attention to a sudden shift in how you or a mate gets things done. Sometimes this means becoming a workaholic, using endless tasks and projects to outrun quiet or di cult thoughts. Other times, it’s the opposite: suddenly finding it impossible to make simple decisions or start basic tasks. This isn’t a character flaw; it’s a common sign that the system is overloaded.
Being switched on and aware is a valuable skill learned in service, but a constant inability to switch o can be a sign of underlying distress. This might look like always needing to be busy, feeling restless and on edge even on a day o , or constantly scanning your environment. It’s like an engine stuck idling too high, burning fuel for no reason.
These quiet signs are important pieces of information. They're not weaknesses, just indicators that the load might be too heavy. Noticing them in yourself or a mate is a critical first step. If any of this sounds familiar, a confidential chat can help make sense of it.
The following includes the average processing times for some claims, the number of claims that we are processing and the claims that we have received and processed.
Last updated: 4 August 2025
The average number of days it takes to process a claim at 30 June 2025 Types of claims
The following table shows the history of claims that are in progress and those that have been completed.
