Equality has being demanded for military servicemen killed on duty in Malaysia and Vietnam.

The Government has asked the Veterans Board to review a policy that meant the remains of soldiers killed overseas between 1948 and the mid 1970s were left in foreign graves and not brought home for burial.

The Returned Services Association said it's pleased the Government is making the move for the families of the soldiers.

RSA president BJ Clark said it's something they've been fighting for for some time.

"We could say it's too late or it's taken a long time, but let's look at the glass being half full. Let's move forward with it."

Mr Clark said he went to a meeting recently where families were making submissions to bring their loved ones home, and there wasn't a dry eye in the room.

"Their feelings were obviously genuine, they were real, they were powerful, and the Select Committee themselves were grabbing for the tissues. So that's what it means for the families."

New Zealand First deputy Leader Ron Mark said the soldiers deserve to be treated the same as any other personnel now on active duty.

"We would not even contemplate leaving someone behind who was killed in the Sinai tomorrow or next week in Iraq or Afghanistan. We would not contemplate that, we would bring them home, so what the hell is the difference? There is no difference."

Mr Mark said there have been some highly respected retired personnel who'd served in Malaysia and Vietnam, who've made backroom approaches to Government ministers and the Prime Minister, who've been sorely disappointed that they weren't being listened to.

"Many of them are National Party members and National Party supporters and they'd be quite guttered actually by their party's treatment of this whole matter."

Labour MP Clayton Cosgrove said the Government should look across the Tasman for advice.

Mr Cosgrove believes there is scope for some immediate action rather than waiting until advice is given in March next year.

"If it's good enough for the Australians, who have just gone and repatriated their people, I would have thought you could have picked up the phone to the Australian counterparts and said, 'how did you do it, how much did it cost, what were the protocols'."

The Government has gone from saying it won't do anything to it'll have a look at it, and that is progress, Mr Cosgrove said.

"I'm sure family members will be gratified by that, but the proof of the pudding at the end of the day is what actually comes out of these deliberations. I certainly support the families and their request to repatriate."