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VA News NEWS WINTER 2021
Lest we forget
Veterans’ Affairs in Whangārei
3 and Tairāwhiti/Gisborne 4 Leaving Afghanistan 12 Remembering Anzac Day
www.veteransaffairs.mil.nz
In this issue
From the Head of Veterans’ Affairs
3 Veterans’ Affairs Forums
4 Leaving Afghanistan
Tēnā koutou katoa
6 Jayforce 75 Commemoration
Welcome to the winter edition
7 Message from the Minister of VA News. Since our last
communication, many of you from
7 Veteran’s Pension Portability
across New Zealand attended dawn
7 Disablement Pension form services on Anzac Day. The ability to
update attend a Dawn Service was certainly
welcomed by many following the
8 Anzac Day
restrictions in 2020 due to COVID-19.
Anzac Day remains an important one
on the commemorative calendar where
we take a moment to reflect, honour
and acknowledge the service of so
many New Zealanders, both past and
About VA News present, in the defence of our country.
Bernadine Mackenzie,
The commemorative calendar has Head of Veterans’ Affairs
VA News is published four times a year
by Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand— also been a busy one for our Minister
Te Tira Ahu Ika a Whiro. for Veterans, Hon Meka Whaitiri. In The independent client satisfaction
Our team takes care in writing great April, she jointly presented 67 medals survey through our partners, Public
content and—to the best of our to the families of soldiers who served Voice, continues by phone and I would
knowledge—has sourced accurate in C Company 28th (Maori) Battalion like to thank those who have provided
information. feedback. We will provide the client
who had never received their medals.
The views expressed in VA News are not satisfaction survey results in our next
We have a bit more about this special
necessarily those of Veterans’ Affairs or issue of VA News.
the New Zealand Defence Force. occasion further on in VA News.
Some of our VA team continue to meet Please also stay tuned for an
Contact us with veterans and whānau as part of announcement in coming weeks
our ongoing outreach programme about the Veterans’ Independence
For more information about Programme. We are certainly excited
Veterans’ Affairs or anything in this and recently this included a veterans’
edition of VA News: forum in the Tairāwhiti/Gisborne and it will help improve our service
region. As this goes to print, we will be delivery to you.
www.veteransaffairs.mil.nz
conducting another forum in Hamilton Stay safe, stay kind and please do let
veterans@nzdf.mil.nz for those in the Waikato region. Our us know if there is anything we can do
forums continue to bring together to help you.
0800 483 8372 many veterans who haven’t seen
(Freephone New Zealand) Ngā mihi
each other in quite some time and the
1800 483 837 Bernadine
camaraderie amongst old mates is
(Freephone Australia)
always something special to see.
+64 4 495 2070
(rest of world)
Veterans’ Affairs
PO Box 5146
Auckland case management clinics
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
Case management clinics are Upcoming clinics
a chance to book a one-on-one
JUN JUL AUG
appointment with a Veterans’
Affairs case manager. 29 27 24
Tuesday, Tuesday, Tuesday,
These clinics are designed for: 29 June* 27 July* 24 August
• current clients – veterans and *These dates have changed from
whānau previously published dates.
Main cover image: Anzac Day, Burnham.
• veterans who are not already getting Ranfurly Veterans’ Centre,
support from us. 37 Warren Avenue,
Three Kings, Auckland 1042
Appointments are available between
10am and 2pm for up to 40 minutes. To book an appointment:
0800 483 8372
veterans@nzdf.mil.nz
2
NEWS
Reaching out to veterans
and their whānau
In the last few months Just like Northland, the Tairāwhiti/ Connecting with whānau is important.
Gisborne forum attracted over 100 Veterans’ Affairs is able to offer some
the Veterans’ Affairs veterans. Given it was the school financial support for dependents and
and Ranfurly Veterans’ holidays, many of the veterans brought surviving spouses.
Trust teams have along their mokopuna, reminding all For further information, please give us
present of the importance of family a call on Freephone 0800 483 8372.
caught up with veterans and whānau.
from Northland and the
Tairāwhiti/Gisborne George Brown, kaiāwhina of They make it easy and simple
regions. Turanga Health, was at the to access health and well-being
Tairāwhiti/Gisborne forum. check-ups and support for men and
In the endless summer of Northland, their families.
about 130 veterans and their whānau George is currently connecting with
George would like to hear from
came along to the forum and met with veterans and other men’s groups in
any veterans group that meets in
Veterans’ Affairs staff, other support Tairāwhiti to encourage them to talk
Tairāwhiti. He can be contacted at
organisations and agencies, including about their wellbeing. George hopes
george.brown@turangahealth.co.nz.
suppliers of home independence that through these discussions,
products. veterans will encourage each
other to go for regular check-ups.
Hon. Meka Whaitiri, Minister for He wants our veterans to do it for
Veterans, dropped in to the forum themselves and for their whānau.
and met briefly with some of those
“Sometimes they hide things from
in attendance, including the many
their families. They want to protect
exhibitors. The wellbeing of veterans
them but this often makes it worse
was at the forefront of the discussions
for the people closest to them.”
and the Minister was able to hear
first-hand how the services and Turanga Health takes a holistic
supports available to veterans have approach to wellbeing. One that
helped maintain their independence, includes family and their community.
especially in the home.
visit us online www.veteransaffairs.mil.nz 3
Lowering the flag.
NEWS
End of the Afghanistan
deployment
The remaining More than 3,500 NZDF personnel National Defence and Security Forces
have served in Afghanistan, in (ANDSF) and comprises around 9,500
New Zealand Defence what has been one of the NZDF’s personnel from 36 NATO allies and
Force (NZDF) personnel longest-running deployments. Ten partners.
in Afghanistan have New Zealanders lost their lives while His role included planning, liaison
serving there.
returned home, having and preparation for the transition of
Colonel Ben Bagley, the Senior security, camps and bases; setting the
lowered the flag on National Officer for the final conditions for the change in footprint
the NZDF’s 20-year contingent, said its six personnel had of coalition forces in line with Afghan
deployment to the made a significant contribution. peace processes.
country. “While small in number, we had Three NZDF personnel were
sizeable tasks ahead of us when we supporting the United Kingdom-led
first arrived in Afghanistan last year. mentoring for the Afghan National
When we lowered the New Zealand Army Officers’ Academy (ANAOA).
flag, we were all proud to be the last Over time, the NZDF’s role at the
Kiwis to represent our country in ANAOA changed from training cadets
Afghanistan.” to one of mentoring Afghan trainers.
Colonel Bagley was based at the The academy has now reached
NATO-led Resolute Support Mission a point of self-sufficiency where
headquarters in Kabul. Resolute New Zealand’s contribution is no
Support is a non-combat mission to longer needed.
train, advise and assist the Afghan
4
NEWS
The two NZDF gender advisors
at the Resolute Support Mission
Colonel Bagley said COVID-19
prevention protocols had greatly “When we
headquarters were leading projects
such as the construction of a
restricted movements and day-to-day
activities in Afghanistan, and it was
lowered the
Women’s Police training village that good to be back in New Zealand. New Zealand
flag, we were
could accommodate families, and “Gyms and messes were closed,
the creation of a career progression everyone wears face masks, meetings
model for all females in the ANDSF. are held virtually and there is no all proud to be
the last Kiwis
Colonel Bagley said work on those socialising.”
projects would continue at the RSM While he had enjoyed the work in
headquarters.
During the deployment, there was
Afghanistan, he said all personnel
were looking forward to getting back
to represent
another handover of significance to the to family. our country in
Afghanistan.”
NZDF. A New Zealand camp, located
within Harmid Karzai International
Airport and named after Corporal
Douglas Grant, who was killed in – Colonel Ben Bagley
Afghanistan, was handed over to the
United Kingdom defence forces to
use. “It’s good to see it being used, and
that they have retained the name Camp
Grant in Doug’s memory,” he said.
visit us online www.veteransaffairs.mil.nz 5
The 75th commemoration
OUR PEOPLE
of Jayforce
It’s been almost three Jennifer Thomas, whose father David fond memories, and noted that it was in
served as a Private in the 2nd Battalion, “stark contrast to the sombre reception
months since twenty- said the feelings of camaraderie in 1948”.
six Jayforce veterans amongst the veterans was something Members of Jayforce brought back to
together with family she would never forget, as well as New Zealand, a new appreciation for
the event itself. “It was indeed a great
members and carers, privilege to be able to escort our dad
and understanding of Japan. Some
men had fallen in love not only with
attended the National on such a momentous occasion”, she the country, but with Japanese women
Commemoration of said. they met, who returned with them
Jayforce on the 75th James Robertson, also served as war brides. Others would return
in 2nd Battalion, and his whānau to Japan during the Korean War of
anniversary of their tuned in to the live stream of the 1950–53, where the country they had
arrival in Japan, held commemoration from across Australia, once occupied acted as a base for
at Pukeahu National the United Kingdom and New Zealand. operations. Looking back, the post-
“Dad really enjoyed himself. I don’t war occupation can be understood
War Memorial Park on think he has been so busy for years as marking the tentative beginnings
19 March 2021. Given and like the others on the day, he of what has become, seven decades
the significance of the doggedly stood when it was his later, an enduring relationship between
duty to stand” said his son, Stewart. New Zealand and Japan.
occasion, VA took the “The feedback from the family was The insert included in VA News
opportunity to find unanimous – lumps in throats, tears in features all of the Jayforce veterans
out from those who eyes. Jim was their hero.” who attended the Jayforce 75th
attended, just what it For many who attended, it was a time Commemoration.
to remember and reflect on service
meant to them to attend given more than 75 years ago. For
the commemoration, Graham Boswell, who served as a
and their lasting Captain with 3rd Battalion, he would
look back on the commemoration with
impressions.
6
OUR PEOPLE
Message from the Minister Veterans’ Pension
and Superannuation
Portability
Tēnā koe
It gives me great pleasure to be able
If you are considering moving
to write a short message for this
to another country or taking an
edition of VA News. I am honoured to
extended overseas trip (when the
be in the role as Minister for Veterans
borders open further), before you
and in the last few months I’ve had
do it would be worth your time
a chance to catch up with veterans
to learn about how that move or
and their whānau at events and
trip might affect your Veteran’s
commemorations across New Zealand.
Pension or Superannuation.
I’ve seen some old faces and I’ve met
some new ones and I am particularly The support available and
keen to meet with our contemporary eligibility criteria in the country
veterans as well. that you are thinking of moving
to might be different to New
Having dropped in to the Northland
Hon Meka Whaitiri, Minister for Veterans Zealand. It’s important you
veterans’ forum, I was pleased to see (left) and Robert (Bom) Gillies (right). Bom
understand what support is
the support services on offer to our is the last surviving member of 28th (Maori)
Battalion. available and what the criteria
veterans and their families. To hear
are if you plan to live in another
first-hand how these services help
an Auckland lawyer and great nephew country after retirement.
maintain independence, especially in
the home, certainly strengthened my of Dooley (Turi) Swann (Gisborne), Eligibility criteria for entitlements
view that we need to provide solid who was killed during the Italian can change over time and it’s
support systems that work well for campaign in 1944, while serving with important you check to see if
those in the veteran community. the battalion. David said as far as the changes have occurred that
family knew, they never saw Dooley’s might affect your eligibility, for
Recently I travelled back to medals and as a result, David has example in recent years Australia
Tairāwhiti where I, together with dedicated himself to ensuring that the has changed the eligibility age
Hon. Willie Jackson, Minister of Māori families of the East Coast veterans of for the Age Pension, so you no
Development and senior Defence the 28th (Maori) Battalion receive their longer qualify when you are 65
Force personnel, jointly presented medals. years of age.
67 medals to whānau of our soldiers
who served in C Company 28th (Maori) I certainly look forward to meeting The Veteran’s Pension is
Battalion, and to Korean War veterans many more of our veterans in coming administered by the Ministry of
who never received their medals. It months. Until then stay safe as the Social Development’s Veterans’
was indeed a privilege to be part of winter season approaches. Pension Centre. If you are
this special occasion. Ngā mihi thinking about a move overseas,
give them a call on Freephone
This was possible in no small part of Hon Meka Whaitiri
0800 650 656 if you have any
the unwavering efforts of David Stone, Minister for Veterans
queries.
New Disablement Pension Form Commemorative
Fund Update
Veterans’ Affairs has updated We will continue to accept
the Disablement Pension form applications on the old If you have Qualifying Operational
to make it easier for those with Disablement Pension form, but if Service (QOS), you will now be able
qualifying service to claim. The you have copies of the old form, to apply for a commemorative travel
new, simplified form can be we would prefer that those are contribution to attend a domestically
used to apply for a Disablement discarded. based event that commemorates
Pension, or a reassessment of From time to time we will get in your service (some conditions will
your Disablement Pension. The touch with some of those who apply). Organisers of reunions that
new form is available on our use this form to check whether it commemorate qualifying operational
website or you can contact us on needs further improvement. service will now be able to apply
Freephone 0800 483 8372 if you for $50 per head for each person
would like copies of the new form attending who has QOS. Our website
mailed to you. will be updated with further details in
due course.
visit us online www.veteransaffairs.mil.nz 7
Hawera Hawera
Anzac Day 2021
Pukeahu National War Memorial Park, Pukeahu National War Memorial Park,
Wellington Wellington
Pukeahu National War Memorial Park,
Wellington Burnham
8
Napier Napier
75 th Commemoration of Jayforce Pukeahu National War Memorial Park 19 March 2021
Allan Martin Allen Alworthy Martin Bryan Cox David Daniel David Thomas George Ferguson Graham Boswell Ian Hausman Jack Warrender James Quested James Robertson James Sewell John Walker June Yearbury Laurie Colombus Lawrence (Bill) Mischefski Margaret McNaughton Ormand Edwards Peter Grayburn Peter Wiren Rauna Paenga (aka Muhu Ihaea) Raymond Cooper Raymond Laurance Robert Boyne Stanley Burden Trevor Burrell
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