New Zealand veterans are being asked to serve their country, but advocates say too many are still left fighting for recognition and support once their military service ends.
Aaron Wood, co-founder and trustee of the No Duff Charitable Trust, is renewing calls for major reform of the veteran support system amid criticism from former service personnel that New Zealand compares poorly with other Western countries.
No Duff was established in 2017 to help veterans and their whānau navigate gaps in existing services. The organisation provides free crisis and welfare support and has previously taken more than 1,000 crisis calls, including referrals involving government agencies.
Wood, a former soldier who served for 24 years, says fundamental problems remain despite years of reviews and recommendations. A major 2017 review of the Veterans’ Support Act produced 64 recommendations covering areas including rehabilitation, mental health, family support, eligibility and the way government identifies and responds to veterans. Veterans’ Affairs published its final update on those recommendations in 2024, recording a range of legislative, policy and service changes.
A key area of continuing debate is eligibility. Veterans’ Affairs provides health, rehabilitation and financial assistance to eligible former personnel, but access generally depends on having qualifying service and, for many supports, a condition connected with that service.
Wood and other veterans argue that leaves significant gaps, particularly for people transitioning out of the Defence Force, those requiring mental-health support and former personnel who fall outside the statutory definition required for some veterans’ services.
The Government says it is continuing to expand support. In July, Veterans Minister Chris Penk announced another 1,300 Defence veterans would have their service recognised for access to health, rehabilitation and financial support for deployment-related conditions.
For No Duff, however, the wider challenge remains ensuring nobody who has served Aotearoa is left to navigate civilian life, injury, trauma or financial hardship without adequate support.
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