A new national day will be created and the definition of veteran expanded to capture tens of thousands of former soldiers, sailors and aviators through a new bill the Government will propose. 

It follows New Zealand’s most decorated living war hero, Sir Willie Apiata, gifting Veterans Minister Chris Penk his New Zealand Victoria Cross medal last month in the hope Parliament could change the definition 

Penk today announced the Government would introduce the Veterans’ Recognition Bill in response to concerns from the military community the present definition of a veteran created an “unnecessary divide” and caused some to feel “invisible”. 

“Under the Veterans’ Support Act, the term ‘veteran’ is currently reserved for New Zealand Defence Force personnel who were injured as a result of Qualifying Service, either in deployments where there has been a significant risk of harm to those deployed, or in routine service before ACC was introduced in 1974,” Penk said. 

“While that definition remains appropriate for determining eligibility for support entitlements, it has unfortunately left many who have loyally served our nation feeling excluded, given that they fall outside the current narrow legal scope of the ‘veteran’ definition.” 

Veterans Minister Chris Penk today announced the Government would introduce the Veterans’ Recognition Bill in response to concerns from the military community. Photo / Mark Mitchell 

The bill would establish a broader definition that would apply to all NZDF personnel who had received the following medals or awards: 

• the New Zealand Defence Service Medal, which recognises NZDF service of at least three years, including reserve force personnel; 
• operational service or campaign medals; 
• honours or decorations awarded through the royal honours system; and 
• medals for bravery or excellence awarded by the New Zealand government. 

It was unclear how many of the estimated 140,000 people who have previously served in the NZDF would be covered by the bill. About 40,000 of those are deemed veterans. More than half of the remaining 100,000 people would earn the title through the new bill. 

The bill would also include a covenant that would formalise the relationship between the Government and veterans, acting as a “national promise to treat veterans with respect and dignity”. 

A new national day honouring veterans would also be created, marked annually with a Veterans’ Service Awards ceremony. 

The date for the national day, which would not be a public holiday, had not yet been decided, but would be chosen following consultation with the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association (RSA) and the independent Veterans’ Advisory Board. 

“The Government acknowledges that some New Zealanders have historically felt invisible after leaving service – and we agree that this must change,” Penk said. 

Whakatāne RSA Padre Raharuhi Koia provides a prayer as Warrant Officer Willie Apiata bestows his Victoria Cross medal on Minister for Veterans Chris Penk. Photo / Diane McCarthy 

Penk was gifted Apiata’s medal on March 28 while attending a function at the Whakatāne RSA. 

Apiata earned the prestigious honour for carrying a wounded fellow soldier to safety under heavy fire in Afghanistan in 2004. He has campaigned for more than five years for changes to the Veterans Support Act 2014. 

“There are many versions of the definition of a veteran,” Apiata said last month. 

“The definition that resides within our country at the moment splits us into two peoples when we should be one. Because we all gave one service.” 

He said he had spoken to previous Ministers for Veterans Affairs Peeni Henare, Meka Whaitiri and Ron Mark about the issue. 

“As I said five years ago, I cannot carry this until we are all under the same umbrella,” he said of the medal. 

Adam Pearse is a political reporter in the NZ Herald press gallery team based at Parliament. He has worked for NZME since 2018, covering sport and health for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei before moving to the NZ Herald in Auckland, covering Covid-19 and crime.