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  • Get support
    The support you may be able to get depends on your circumstances.
    Currently serving
    While serving, the NZDF will take care of your health and wellbeing issues. If you have qualifying service, we may be able to provide you with home help. Register now with Veterans’ Affairs, and when you need some support, we’ll be ready to help you.
    Ex-serving
    We can provide you with health, rehabilitation and financial support if you have a condition related to your service. We can also provide home help assistance and financial support for you to commemorate your service.
    Family and whānau
    How we can support you, your family and whānau.
    Non-military personnel
    Non-military personnel can have Qualifying Operational Service in certain circumstances.
    A-Z list of services and entitlements
    View all of the services and entitlements available to qualifying veterans and their family and whānau.
  • Remembrance
    We're proud to honour the service of the veteran community.
    Services Cemeteries and plaques and headstones
    We help look after Services Cemeteries. We're also able to contribute towards plaques and headstones.
    Commemorative funding
    There are two types of financial contributions available from the Commemorative Fund.
    Medals and service records
    The NZ Defence Force's Personnel Archives and Medals team ​administer medals and hold most New Zealand military service records.
    ​When someone dies
    We may be able to provide support when someone who had Qualifying Service dies.
    Your family's military history
    Learning more about your family's military history is a great way to honour their service.
    Certificate of Appreciation and Veterans' Pins
    The Certificate of Appreciation and Veteran's Pin recognise operational service.
    NZ Post Stamps
    This series of stamps explores the stories of 6 veterans deployed after 1995. You can purchase the stamps on the NZ Post website.
  • Eligibility
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    Qualifying Service
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    Living outside NZ
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    Eligibility criteria for family and dependants
    You may be able to get support if you're the spouse, partner, child or dependant of someone with Qualifying Service.
    Veterans of foreign militaries
    Veterans' Affairs New Zealand was established to support New Zealand veterans.
  • For clients
    We put veterans and our clients at the heart of everything we do.
    If you have a question at any stage, please contact us — we're here to help.
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  • For providers
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    Schedules of fees, invoicing and application instructions, and information for treating hearing needs.
    How military service affects the health of veterans
    Veterans can experience physical and mental health conditions disproportionately compared to the general public. Different NZDF 'operations' may be linked to higher rates of specific conditions. Understanding a veteran's service can help you to understand their health.

The Veterans' Recognition Bill

The Government intends to introduce legislation to recognise more former soldiers, sailors and aviators as veterans. The Minister for Veterans has also announced a plan to establish a new national day of tribute, and an annual awards ceremony.

The Veterans’ Recognition Bill would introduce a broader definition of 'veteran' separate from the existing Veterans’ Support Act 2014, and include all former New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel who have received any of the following medals or awards:

  • the New Zealand Defence Service Medal, which recognises NZDF service of at least three years, including reserve force personnel
  • operational service or campaign medals
  • honours or decorations awarded through the royal honours system
  • medals for bravery or excellence awarded by the New Zealand government.

The proposed bill would also include a covenant, or kawenata, which would formalise the relationship between the Government and veterans, and act as a national promise to treat veterans with respect and dignity.

The new bill would not change any existing veteran entitlements.

The Minister for Veterans also plans to establish a national day dedicated to honouring New Zealand’s veterans. This would not be a statutory public holiday. The date will be chosen following consultation with the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association (RNZRSA) and the independent Veterans’ Advisory Board.

More information on Beehive.govt.nz(external link)

Date

08 May 2025

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Last Modified: 8 May 2025
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