Briefing to the Incoming Minister
Statutory Appointments
Key Points
- The Minister of Veterans’ Affairs has responsibility for two statutory Boards, the War Pensions Advisory Board and the War Pensions Appeal Board.
War Pensions Advisory Board
Section 5A of the War Pensions Act 1954 establishes a War Pension Advisory Board. The role of this Board is to provide the Minister of Veterans' Affairs with advice on the types of policy that it thinks should be applied in respect of war pensions and allowances. It is also designed to act as a consultative forum over war pension related issues. The Board also has responsibility for administering the War Pensions Medical Research Trust Fund. The War Pensions Medical Research Trust Fund is a fund made up from donations and bequests. The purpose of the War Pensions Medical Research Trust Fund is defined by Section 18L of the War Pensions Act 1954 as to make ‘grants or awards for the purpose of medical research into mental disorders, or other fields of medical research beneficial to former members of the forces’. The Advisory Board consists of three members:- The Secretary for War Pensions (the presiding member);
- The National President of the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association (RNZRSA); and
- A medical member (a registered medical practitioner) appointed by the Minister of Veterans' Affairs.
- Jessie Gunn (Secretary for War Pensions)
- John Campbell (current National President of the RNZRSA)
- Brigadier (Retired) Dr David Le Page
War Pensions Appeal Board
Section 8 of the War Pensions Act 1954 establishes a War Pensions Appeal Board. The War Pensions Appeal Board considers appeals in respect of decisions made by the National Review Officer or the Secretary for War Pensions concerning an application for, or a review of, a War Disablement Pension or the attributability of a veteran’s death to their service.
The War Pensions Appeal Board consists of a chairperson, deputy chairperson and two registered medical practitioners, one of whom is appointed as a representative of the members of the Forces on the nomination of the RNZRSA. All members of the War Pensions Appeal Board are appointed by the Minister of Veterans' Affairs. The RNZRSA nominated registered medical practitioner also has a deputy.
The current members of the War Pensions Appeal Board are:
- Mr David McGregor OBE, ED, LLB (Chairperson)
- Ms Rebecca Ewert LLB, LLM, MBA (Deputy Chairperson)
- Dr Peter Robinson (nominated by the RNZRSA)
- Brig (Rtd) Dr Brian McMahon CBE, K.ST J, CMLJ, KLJ (Dr Robinson’s deputy, nominated by the RNZRSA)
- Dr Donald Stewart (nominated by the Minister of Veterans’ Affairs)
- Dr Jacqueline Allan (nominated by the Minister of Veterans’ Affairs)
War Pensions Claims Panels
The RNZRSA nominations to the War Pensions Claims Panels are statutory appointments made by the Secretary for War Pensions.- 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
12 February, 2010
and is current.