Here is an image of three wise men who met recently in Tauranga.

This is quite confusing for some so here is a clear definition as to how NZDF and VANZ refer to Operational Service

Definition of Operational Service

Operational service is service which exceeds the normal requirements of peacetime service, and which involves a credible military threat from enemy military forces, insurgents, or other hostile forces. If the service involves no threat, or is determined as having only a very low threat level, a campaign or operational service medal will not be instituted or awarded.

The New Zealand Defence Force defines three categories of operational service: warlike, hazardous, and non-warlike.

• Warlike – In a state of declared war, or with conventional combat operations against an armed adversary, or peace enforcement between belligerents who have NOT consented to any intervention.

• • For example, Vietnam and the 1990-1991 Gulf War.

• Hazardous – Peace enforcement between belligerents who HAVE consented to intervention or requested assistance, or missions where casualties may be expected.

• For example, service in Bougainville since 1997.

• Non-warlike – Military activities in which casualties are not expected, including peacekeeping or sanctions-enforcing missions in benign situations, disaster relief in locations where there are belligerents or other hostile groups, observer activities and other hazardous activities.

These definitions are quite clear and concise.  However when put up against the Veterans Support 2014 Act you will find terms such as Operational Service, Qualifying Operational Service and Routine Operational Service

How Qualifying Operational Service is determined

1. After the decision to deploy has been made the Chief of Defence Force must give a report to the Minister for Veterans as soon as possible. This report assesses the operational and environmental threats to deployed personnel.
2. The Minister for Veterans decides if there is a significant risk to deployed personnel.
3. The Minister for Veterans declares the operation as Qualifying Operational Service if it meets the threat threshold. This declaration is published in the New Zealand Gazette.

Qualifying Routine Service

You will have Qualifying Routine Service if you served in the NZ Armed Forces before 1 April 1974.

Qualifying Routine Service recognises that before 1 April 1974 service members were not covered for work-related injuries or illnesses. Because of this, Veterans Affairs will  provide support to all those that served in the NZ Armed Forces during this time.

Qualifying Routine Service stopped on 1 April 1974 with the introduction of ACC. Since that date, ACC provides support for all New Zealanders who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses. This coverage extends to members of the NZ Defence Force or NZ Armed Forces.

Confusing and it would help if all organisations use the same terminology.  Just a reminder you may be in receipt of the Operational Service Medal but please please do not for one moment think that entitles you to anything.  Please read the fine print.

As you will be aware a sub-committee of the Royal New Zealand Navy Communicators Assn was formed and comprises of Gary Houghton, Rod Berry, John Titmus, Neal Catley and Frank Rands.  (sorry no army or air representatives)

We recently met and thought it was time to bring you up to date with the activities we have been involved in.  There are a number of issues under consideration.

1.  FESR and SE ASIA Medallic Recognition.  This issue has been under consideration by the committee for at least 5 years with submissions and letters have been written to 4 Minister of Defence Coleman, Brownlee, Mitchell and now Mark.  The result has been that after many hours of work NZDF have agreed to re-look at the work undertaken by the Joint Working Group.  An independent panel was to be formed but there is no indication that this has occurred.  In Feb 2018 the association had an undertaken that the NZDF would keep us advised and again this has not occurred.  Earlier this month (November) a further submission was presented and NZDF were approached directly to ascetain the status of our requests.  We now await a response from the Minister of Defence and Chief of Defence Force to our correspondence.  Be aware we do not intend to give up on this issue and other groups are now starting to pick up the mantle as well.  Further details will be advised in 2019.
2. The ‘Right of Burial’ .  After much research it has been discovered that prior to 1997 the Burial and Cremations Act 1964 provided the rights of all persons who served in Her Majestys Forces to be buried in the Service Section of their local cemetery.  In 1997 these rights were removed and replaced with those persons who hold Operational Qualifying Service i.e. this means you had to have served in a war, peacekeeping mission or during a period and location.  Three departments were involved in removing the rights of thousands of servicemen and women without due consultation.  They were Internal Affairs, the NZDF and the Returned Servicemens Association.  The report to Governemnt was that there were no submissions received against the change in legislation so that it should proceed.  A letter has been sent to the Minister of Health who administers this Act requesting that this legislation be amended to reflect the pre 1997 wording of clause 15.
3. Watch this space and hopefully 2019 will resolve the outstanding issues.

A new tool was launched on 30 November 2018 and has been designed to guide veterans and New Zealand service personnel towards organisations that can help address their health, welfare and social needs.

This is an online service directory called WeServed.nz.  Click HERE

The tool has been developed by the Ranfurly Veterans’ Trust, with the support of the organisations that make up the Combined Veterans Advocacy Group––the Australasian Services Care Network, the RNZRSA, the No Duff Charitable Trust, Veterans’ Affairs, and the NZDF.

The Chairman of the Ranfurly Veterans’ Trust, David McGregor, said that the Trust had been happy to sponsor the work to develop WeServed.nz.

“This will be a useful resource for our veterans and serving men and women” Mr McGregor said. “And we are delighted to have been part of making it happen”.

We obviously live on the wrong side of the ditch.  We are still trying to figure out what a Veteran is!  Click HERE

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has spoken of a “culture of respect” for veterans as he rolled out a new scheme inviting big business to offer discounts to Australian veterans.

Apologies, Apologies to our Nanogenarians!!  Isn’t that the way we now have five…  Are there any more out there!!

There are actually five communicators who have attained this huge milestone in the Association unless I am again to be proved wrong.

They are Jim Blackburn, Peter Smith, Ron Burton, Jock Howell and Bluey Findlay. So congratulations to the five of you.  I wonder who else is knocking on the door??

Members of the Association are invited to attend the Remembrance Service for HMS NEPTUNE at the Devonport Naval Base. The service will take place in St Christophers and this will be the 77th anniversary of the loss of HMS NEPTUNE.

The service will commence at 1000 on 16 Decenber 2018. The service will be conducted by two Chaplains from HMNZS NGAPONA, which is, of course, entirely appropriate given that many of the 150 Kiwi sailors lost were volunteer reservists (including 29 from NGA’s predecessor unit).  Don’t forget to bring some form of ID as you will need it for security at the Main Gate of PHILOMEL.

Here is a LINK  from Australian and US Research on suicide by ex Military Persons.

An interesting article however, none of its points affect former NZDF personnel!

Why you may ask? and that is because the article follows the accepted international definition of a veteran. That is someone who served whether in operations or not.

However the NZDF and Veterans Affairs do not adhere to that definition.  Must be missing something here when we are so far out of step with our Allies and Friends

The following Sailors ‘Crossed the Bar’ during the month of December 2018. Details of funerals etc can be found by clicking HERE.

HARGREAVES, Maraea Rahiri. Ex -Wren WRNZNS service No. 955.
SMITH, William James Lanyon: DSO, OBE, Commander

Minister of Defence Ron Mark and Minister for Climate Change James Shaw have today released a Defence Assessment on the security implications of climate change.

The Climate Crisis: Defence Readiness and Responsibilities explores the implications of climate change for New Zealand Defence Force operations.

It identifies climate change as one of the most significant security threats of our time, and one that is already having adverse impacts both at home and in New Zealand’s neighbourhood.

“This Government is committed to ensuring New Zealand does its part to address climate change,” says Ron Mark. “This means both contributing to mitigating climate change itself, and working with our international partners to respond to the intensifying impacts climate change will bring.

“Earlier this year the Government’s Strategic Defence Policy Statement recognised climate change will have a big impact on Defence operations, particularly in the Pacific.

“It proceeded to highlight that disruptive weather patterns are causing an increased frequency and intensity of weather extremes such as cyclones, rainfall events, droughts, and flooding from sea level rise. In addition, the state of the Southern Ocean is changing, meaning our current vessels are getting close to the limits of being able to operate safely.

“Therefore it stands to reason that we needed to look deeper in order to better understand the social and security implications of climate change, and what our Defence Force will face when it responds to these weather events.

“The assessment released today identifies the particular security impacts which may arise, including vulnerable populations losing their economic livelihoods, increased food and water scarcity, malnutrition, climate migration, health related crises, competition for resources, land disputes and the potential for increased violence from mismanaged adaptation or migration.

“This assessment is a necessary first step. It makes it clear that Defence will have to adapt to meet the challenges posed by this emerging threat to our security. We are now using this assessment to inform our review of the Defence Capability Plan, which I expect to release early next year,” says Ron Mark.

“The Coalition Government already has a work programme underway to help alleviate the effects of climate change. This includes re-energised Pacific policy settings, the development of a new climate change law, and the commitment to make 100 per cent of New Zealand’s electricity renewable by 2035,” says James Shaw.

“This assessment is an important addition to the work the Government is doing, and it really hammers home why it’s important we act now to combat climate change in our region. If we don’t, communities will suffer, and this Government will not stand by doing nothing.

“At the 2018 Pacific Islands Forum, leaders affirmed that climate change presents the single greatest threat to the livelihood, security and wellbeing of Pacific people. Defence has stepped up and is thinking very seriously about how this will impact us here in New Zealand and our region as a whole, and how we will need to respond,” says James Shaw

It has been produced by the Ministry of Defence in consultation with the New Zealand Defence Force, other New Zealand agencies, Pacific partners and academics. Here is the LINK to the MOD Assessment

A number of you have taken the opportunity to write to your local Member of Parliament with reference to a number of issues which might have included the forming of the latest Veterans Advisory Board and/or the Right to be buried in the Service Section of your local Cemetery.

It is ‘good manners’ that correspondence be acknowledged and answered in a timely fashion.

Having served in both the Defence Headquarters and Naval Staff, it was expected that all corresponsdence would be answered within 14 days or if not an answer was forthcoming than at the very least an acknowledgement of the correspondence would be sent.  Request for Official Information were dealt with and expedited and responded to normally with 48 hours of receipt.

It is clearly apparent that Parliament does not work this way!!  and I encourage you all  to send hasteners to your local Member of Parliament for correspondence which has not at the very least been acknowledged.  Furthermore when a receipt has been received and advice to the effect that your correspondence has been forwarded on to another Minister then an acknowledgement should be expected from that Minister’s office at the very least.

We all understand that our Members of Parliament of busy people however this does not excuse the lack of acknowledgement of correspondence and nor does it remove the responsibility of providing an adequate response in good time.

You have taken the time to send a letter then it is only right that you receive a response!  

LETS DO THIS

Click on this LINK to see how ships are recycled.  Here is another LINK which provides oversight of the actual Alang Dismantling yard.

If you happen to be serving in HMNZS VENTURE, Christmas 1943 when it was in Fiji, this is what would have been served up to you for dinner.  A copy of Daily Orders is also included.  Click on images to enlarge.  Thanks Neill D for the contribution.  Anyone got an image of VENTURE?

A message from the President of the RNZNCA

On behalf of the Committee, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families a very merry Christmas and all the very best for 2019.

This is a time of giving however, the giving of time is more important than the giving of presents especially for the young ones.  Please drive safe if you are travelling and keep the intake of food and alcohol to a level which can be sustained.  But most of all, enjoy the time with your families.  Good health, and hope to catch up in the New Year.

Garry Houghton – President RNZNCA

The Four Navies of Fiji was written by the First Commander of Fijian Naval Forces, Captain Stanly Brown.  His story appeared in the Fiji Sun Newspaper in 2015 in instalments.  The installments for some reason did not appear in sequence but I am sure you will find it an interesting read.

Click HERE to read on.

Veterans Affairs are currently working through the process to review over 100 deployments, and will be looking at these in six tranches:  This review does not cover any deployments prior to 1974.  Please be aware the RNZN Communicators Assn has raised a paper to the Minister and NZDF re the period prior to 1974 and we await a response from both parties.  We will hopefully advise members of the outcome early in 2019.

Tranche 1: Significant deployments without appropriate coverage
Examples would include operations with no close off date (something required under the Act), or where geographical areas not clearly defined.

This group includes all the operations in:
the Former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Timor-Leste
the Solomon Islands.

Tranche 2: Deployments without coverage that may meet the required risk thresholds
This could include deployments that currently have no cover.

Examples of areas under consideration are:
Several deployments in the Gulf Region
Somalia.

Tranche 3: Deployments declined coverage before 2009 that warrant reconsideration
This will include operations declined coverage before 2009 under the old legislation, which may meet the new risk criteria in the 2014 legislation.

Examples of areas under consideration are:
Laos
Mozambique
Pakistan.

Tranche 4: Deployments with coverage where there needs to be a review of the specified period or a reconsideration of risk
Examples of areas under consideration are:
Angola
Cambodia
Sierra Leone.

Tranche 5: Deployments declined coverage since 2009 that warrant reconsideration
This will include operations declined coverage since 2009 under the old legislation which may now meet the new risk criteria in the 2014 legislation.

Examples of areas under consideration include:
Namibia
Rwanda
Indian Ocean.

Tranche 6: Those deployments considered and declined since the 2014 Act that may meet the eligibility criteria
These deployments may have a single factor which indicates personnel may be at risk from a threat (either environmental or operational). For example a Centre for Disease Control health warning might be in place.

It is unlikely the overall threat assessment will meet the required threshold, but we are carrying out due diligence and reviewing these deployments.

Deployments we’re not reviewing
We’re not reviewing: operations before 1 April 1974, as everyone who served in NZ’s Armed Forces before this date has Qualifying Routine Service and thus eligibility for support and services from Veterans’ Affairs
operations not conducted as part of NZDF Output 5.1 (Military Operations in Support of Rules-Based International Order). The way that Qualifying Operational Service is defined in the legislation does not cover business as usual

How we’ll review deployments
We’ll look at each deployment and consider whether it meets a threat threshold. To do this, we’ll work with our colleagues in:

GEOINT New Zealand
Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand
Strategic Commitments and Engagement Branch NZDF
NZDF Health
NZDF Personnel Archives and Medals.
Once all the deployments in a tranche have been considered, the Head of Veterans’ Affairs will advise the Chief of Defence Force of the outcome.

The Chief of Defence Force will then recommend to the Minister for Veterans if any declarations should be made or changed.

The Minister for Veterans will decide whether to declare deployments as Qualifying Operational Service.

Have your say
If you feel there is a deployment that should be considered against the criteria for Qualifying Operational Service, and you don’t see it listed above, please contact us to suggest deployments that we should consider as part of the review.  Click HERE to sign up and receive updates

Want to know more of what happened on Motuihi Island.  Click HERE

New Zealand General Service Medal (Afghanistan: Primary Operational Area) Regulations 2018

New Zealand General Service Medal (Afghanistan: Secondary Operational Area) Regulations 2018

This note is not part of the regulations, but is intended to indicate their general effect.

These regulations, which come into force on the 28th day after the date of their notification in the Gazette, provide for the award of the New Zealand General Service Medal (Afghanistan: Secondary Operational Area) for service, rendered on or after 18 December 2001, on land, at sea, or in the air in various locations in the Middle East excluding Afghanistan.

These regulations, together with the New Zealand General Service Medal (Afghanistan: Primary Operational Area) Regulations 2018, replace the New Zealand General Service Medal (Afghanistan) Regulations 2002. The substantive change effected by the replacement regulations is that it will be possible for an eligible person to qualify for, and wear, both the New Zealand General Service Medal (Afghanistan: Primary Operational Area) and the New Zealand General Service Medal (Afghanistan: Secondary Operational Area).

The regulations are made under a Royal Warrant, The New Zealand General Service Medal (SR 2002/226), which instituted the New Zealand General Service Medal to be awarded to members of the New Zealand Defence Force and certain civilians for “services rendered during war, and both warlike and non-warlike (including peacekeeping) operations commenced since 1 January 2000”.

This has always been a bone of contention for Navy in that if you were in receipt of the Afghanistan Secondary Operational Area medal and then qualified for the Afghanistan Primary Operational Area medal,  the Secondary medal had to be returned to receive the Primary.  These regulations fix this anomaly.  If you were effected by this anomaly watch this space as you should be able to reapply for the Afghanistan Secondary if it was handed back.

The Professor Ron Patterson report which provided 64 recommendations in a review of the Veterans Support Act was tabled in Parliament in May 2018.

Here is a record from the Hansard of the Oral Questions in Parliament which you may recall.  Cick HERE

The Hansard identifies a number of areas which your Association will be following up in 2019.   Recent correspondence indicates that the Minister of Veterans Affairs has only accepted one recommendation to which he has set up the Veterans Advisory Board to look at.  This Board (which has no Naval Representation) has until 31 March 2019 to respond and we look forward to the outcome of their deliberations.