Outcome 1
The veterans’ perspective is considered as part of government decision-making on issues that impact on their lives.
Strengthen the policy capacity to improve the ability to work with and influence other government departments and agencies to ensure that Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand is consulted on issues that impact on veterans. This will involve:
- Establishing effective working relationships with, and providing quality advice to, departments and agencies working on issues that impact on the veteran community.
- Providing on going development of the knowledge and capability of Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand staff so that they are able to provide quality response to queries.
This will be measured by:
- The degree to which the impacts on the veteran community are considered in the provision of services.
- Obtaining feedback on the quality of the advice and information provided to other departments and agencies.
Strengthen collaboration with international administrations to ensure that opportunities to share information on existing and emerging practices, polices and developments of common interest are maximised. This will involve:
- Strengthening opportunities for collaboration with individual agencies.
- Leading and participating in cross administration working groups.
This will be measured by:
- The level of co-operation and collaboration with other administrations.
- The benefit gained from the co-operation and collaboration.
Outcome 2
Eligible Veterans and their dependants have access to the appropriate services in recognition of their service.
Undertake a rewrite of the war pension legislation with the aim of producing a piece of legislation that meets the needs of the modern day veteran population. This will involve:
- Developing a policy document which outlines the policy direction that it is intended the redraft of the legislation will take.
- Developing and undertaking a consultation process.
- Commencing the drafting process.
This will be measured by:
- The effectiveness of the consultation process in eliciting a wide range of views and opinions from the veteran community.
- The progress made on drafting and implementation.
Ensure that the existing legislation, the War Pensions Act 1954, is managed effectively. This will involve:
- Auditing a percentage of the primary decision making under the War Pensions Act 1954.
- Providing ongoing development of the knowledge and capability of the Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand staff involved in primary decision making.
This will be measured by:
- Monitoring the issues arising from the audits of primary decision making that are undertaken. Implementation of the MOU signed between the Government and the Joint Working Group on the Concerns of Vietnam Veterans.
This will be measured by:
- The percentage of initiatives implemented within the given timeframe.
Review of the way services are delivered to veterans and the implementation of any agreed changes. This will involve:
- The implementation of the agreed outcomes of the machinery of government review.
- The review of service delivery in line with the outcomes of the machinery of government review and the implementation of any agreed changes to service delivery.
- A review of baseline funding that includes a value for money assessment.
This will be measured by:
- Improvement in the level of service delivery.
The introduction of a Veteran’s Card. This will involve:
- A veterans’ version of the Supergold Card for all veterans over the age of 65 years.
- A Veteran’s Card for all veterans under 65 years that will act as a means of verifying a veteran’s service allowing access to services.
- Developing a mechanism for using the veterans’ card as a mechanism for long term health monitoring.
This will be measured by:
- The uptake of the card.
- The effectiveness of the veterans’ card as a mechanism for long term health monitoring.
Review the work undertaken in Services Cemeteries to ensure that they continue to reflect the changing needs of the veteran community. This will involve:
- Monitoring the application of policy and reviewing its effectiveness and amending policy when it no longer meets current need.
- An assessment of the development needs of Services Cemeteries and the development of a 5 year development plan.
This will be measured by:
- Stakeholders feedback.
- An ability to maintain the costs of ex-service cemeteries at a sustainable level.
Outcome 3
The community will be aware of the role veterans played and continue to play in developing New Zealand as a nation.
The development of education material, linked to current curriculum, to support the commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele.
This will be measured by:
- The interest of schools and cadet units in the material.
- Increased awareness of New Zealand’s role in the Battle of Passchendaele.
Previous | Contents | Next