Veterans' Affairs New Zealand

Address:

PO Box 5146
Wellington 6145

Contact:

P: 0800 483 8372
F: 04 495 2080

E-mail:

veterans@xtra.co.nz

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.

The current members of the Advisory Board are:

  • 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.

 

Next: Veterans' Affairs Portfolio

This page was last reviewed 30 August, 2010 and is current.
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