Briefing to the Incoming Minister
Veterans' Affairs Portfolio
Key Points
- The funding of the portfolio is via a split vote, Vote Veterans' Affairs – Defence and Vote Veterans' Affairs – Social Development.
- The Vote has a total appropriation of $6.852 million in departmental appropriations and $252.914 million in non-departmental appropriations.
Services have been provided to the veteran community by a variety of other agencies for a number of years. The delivery of those services was often not coordinated, as individual agencies often took ‘ownership’ of individual elements of service delivery. In order to provide a co-ordinated approach and maximise the services available, the Veterans' Affairs portfolio was established in 1999. Prior to that there was a Minister who had responsibility for War Pensions with all other activity falling under the respective Minister, responsible for the agency delivering the service.
The scope of the portfolio is very broad and encompasses all issues relating to veterans. Ministerial servicing and support is provided through Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand.
Votes Veterans' Affairs
The funding of the portfolio is via a split vote, Vote Veterans' Affairs – Defence and Vote Veterans' Affairs – Social Development.Outcomes
The two agencies working within the portfolio are focussed on achieving the following outcomes for veterans.- The veterans’ perspective is considered as part of government decision-making on issues that impact on veterans’ lives.
- Eligible veterans and their dependants have access to the appropriate services in recognition of the veterans’ Service.
- The community will be aware of the role veterans played and continue to play in developing New Zealand as a nation.
- $0.351 million is spent on ministerial servicing and support.
- $0.161 million is spent on the provision of assistance with commemoration and the co-ordination of Anzac Day at Gallipoli.
- $0.630 million is spent on the assessment and review of War Disablement Pensions.
- $1.021 million is spent on the provision of case management.
- $0.634 million is spent on the provision of memorial plaques and headstones and auditing the maintenance and development work carried out in Services Cemeteries.
- $4.155 million is spent on the processing and payment of benefits by War Pension Services, MSD.
- $0.740 million is spent on the development and maintenance of Services Cemeteries.
- $0.790 million is spent on the provision of additional support to veterans and their families.
- $109.558 million is the estimated spend on War Disablement Pensions.
- $127.837 million is the estimated spend on Veterans’ Pensions.
- $13.890 million is the estimated spend on fully subsidised health care for veterans in receipt of War Disablement Pensions.
- $0.099 million is the estimated spend on the payment of subsidies on Rehabilitation Loans
Legislation
The legislation for which the Minister of Veterans’ Affairs is responsible, is as follows. The War Pensions Act 1954 - The War Pensions Act 1954 provides for the War Disablement Pension and the Veteran’s Pension. The Burial and Cremation Act 1954 - Section 15 of the Burial and Cremation Act 1954 allows for the provision of Services Cemeteries and gives the Minister of Veterans’ Affairs the power to specify who can be buried in a Services Cemetery. The Patriotic and Canteen Funds Act 1947 - The sections relating to the Patriotic and Canteen Funds Board have been repealed. The only sections still remaining in the Act relate to the Patriotic Provincial Councils. Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand is working through a process to give the remaining councils autonomy so that the Act as a whole can be repealed.- Introduction
- The Veteran Community
- Entitlements and Services
- Statutory Appointments
- Veterans' Affairs Portfolio
- Veterans' Affairs New Zealand
- The Ministry of Social Development
- Key Policy Issues
This page was last reviewed
30 August, 2010
and is current.