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Download AudioAn upcoming amendment will formally recognize all conflicts and peacekeeping missions on ANZAC Day.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced the ANZAC Day Amendment Bill at the RSA’s 108th National Council meeting in Wellington.
Te Teko Memorial RSA President Hemana Waaka says the change will clarify a lot of confusion among veterans and returned servicemen about the definition of a veteran, which affects ACC and veteran benefit entitlements.
“For us, the definition is a veteran who’s gone overseas to represent their country in whatever conflict they’ve been sent to. For example, World War One, World War Two, Korea, Malaya, and, of course, Vietnam. But now a veteran is all those that served overseas, whether it was in wartime or whether it was in peacetime, the minute you sign up to join the Army now, no matter how long a term it is, and if you get posted overseas or not, it doesn’t matter you are now classified as a veteran,” say Waaka.
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