Calls for definition of ‘veteran’ to be widened

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

The definition of ‘‘veteran’’ is just one of the barriers impacting on returned soldiers seeking help, a RSA representative says.

Rangiora RSA interim president Malcolm Wallace said confusion around the definition of veteran and changes to technology made it difficult for members to navigate the system.

Representatives of the Rangiora, Amberley, Kaiapoi and Papanui RSAs met with Veterans’ Affairs Minister Chris Penk in Rangiora recently to discuss their concerns.

Wallace said members were often facing a long wait to get a claim recognised by Veterans’ Affairs, with some waiting for two years or more.

A veteran is a soldier who has served overseas on a official deployment.

But Wallace is aware of several soldiers who served overseas and suffered injuries or medical issues, but are not covered.

One former soldier the Rangiora RSA has been working with served 20 years and developed a medical condition while serving in the South Pacific, but it was not an official deployment.

An ex-soldier speaking at the meeting said he injured his arm while working in an advisory role with the New Zealand Defence Force in the Middle East, but was not covered.

‘‘If you have a regimental number and you put on the uniform, then you can be ordered to go anywhere, so it shouldn’t matter what you end up doing,’’ Wallace said.

It meant some people get lost in the system, he said.

‘‘Veterans’ Affairs tells them they need to apply through ACC, but when they go to ACC they’re told to apply through Veterans’ Affairs.

‘‘It is important to recognise, our people are looking for a hand-up, not a hand-out.’’

Veterans have certain entitlements if approved by Veterans' Affairs, including for injuries and the Veterans' Pension.

The online system used by Veterans’ Affairs was ‘‘designed for much younger people’’, while communications through social media meant many were excluded, Wallace said.

Penk, a veteran who served with both the New Zealand and Australian navies, said the Government is reviewing the definition of a veteran.

‘‘People feel their service is not respected, so we are looking at that.’’

He said the Government has committed more resource to Veterans’ Affairs in a bid to get through a backlog of claims.

‘‘It has been a long standing issue and cases have built up over time, as the system’s not responding to the modern age.

‘‘We are caught between paper-based system and an online system.

‘‘We can be more effective with online applications, but we recognise that’s not going to work for everyone.’’

Penk said Veterans’ Affairs is making more of effort to work alongside community organisations, such as RSAs.

■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.