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Last man out of Freetown: Lieutenant Colonel John Dyer’s experiences in Sierra Leone

Lieutenant Colonel (retired) John Dyer, NZGD, was born in Gisborne and joined the New Zealand Army in 1981. He trained as an officer and served for 20 years. Together with training deployments to...

Viet Nam veteran ex gratia update for March — Information for spouses

Ex gratia payments to surviving spouses where the veteran partner died on or prior to 1 November 2018 and had a diagnosis of MGUS or hypertension On 30 November 2021, it was announced that two new...

Social media house rules

Guidelines We welcome your comments, questions and feedback on our social media channels. But we ask that you are respectful and follow these guidelines. Your content is public Once your comment is...

From the Minister for Veterans—Summer 2018

Hon Ron Mark, Minister for Veterans With Christmas almost upon us, I’d like to extend my best wishes to you, our veterans, and your families. It’s been another busy year, so it’s important we now...

Chat with Pat—Winter 2018

Pat Povey is a familiar reassuring face—or voice—to many who interact with Veterans’ Affairs. Starting off as a Case Manager, she later became a Case Management Team Leader. Pat is now the Manager...

Willie Apiata appointed Special Representative to NZDF

New Zealand’s only living recipient of the Victoria Cross, Willie Apiata, has been appointed a Special Representative to the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and promoted to Honorary Warrant Officer...

Gerard Wood | From military nurse to veteran advocate

Veterans who have been to our forums and expos will probably have met Gerard Wood (Ret Lt Col) in the Veterans' Affairs team — a larger-than-life character brimming with good humour, lots of...

Niall Shepherd | RSA District Support Manager

Niall Shepherd is one of nine RSA District Support Managers throughout the country. Niall is responsible for the Otago and Southland districts. Based at Montecillo Veterans Home and Hospital in...

Sisters in Arms helps to support NZ Army women

New Zealand Army Sisters — Ngaa Tuaahine o Ngaati Tumatauenga — was founded by Staff Sergeant Aroha Bentson, RNZALR (Ret.) in September 2019. After retiring from the New Zealand Army, Aroha felt...

Genetic counselling for children of Jayforce, Grapple, and Mururoa veterans

In 2023, New Zealand's independent Veterans' Health Advisory Panel commissioned a literature review on the health risks associated with nuclear exposure. Families of those who could have been exposed...