Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand is branch of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF). The General Manager Veterans' Affairs, reports directly to the Chief of Defence Force.
The staff of Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand are members of the civil staff of the NZDF and are subject to the policies of the NZDF.
Capability
The environment in which Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand operates as an organisation requires the capability to work on both current and historic issues across the interface of the political environment, public service and veteran community.
The following organisational capabilities that Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand is seeking to develop and strengthen are premised on the need for Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand, as an organisation, to be able to react to all circumstances - the predictable and unpredictable:
- The capability to critically analyse issues in context, identify the level of risk and take a pragmatic approach to proposing solutions.
- The analytical capability to establish cause as well as to generate a solution so that risk is minimised and future practice is informed.
- Knowledge of the legislation and regulatory components and policy expectations of the environment in which Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand operates.
- The capability to build constructive relationships with the groups impacting on Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand’s role, while understanding the boundary issues inherent in those relationships and the consequences of crossing those boundaries.
- The capability of working across the whole organisation so that the organisational impact of decision-making is considered.
Risk Management
The key risks, which could prevent Veterans' Affairs New Zealand achieving its mission, and strategies to manage them, are outlined below.
| Key Risks |
Risk Management Strategies |
| Service documents, personnel and medical, held by the NZDF are destroyed. |
Veterans' Affairs New Zealand will work with the NZDF to ensure that the files are adequately protected and that a system for establishing electronic copies of the files is put in place. |
| War Pension files are lost or destroyed. |
Veterans' Affairs New Zealand is looking at systems for establishing electronic copies of the files is put in place. |
| Unable to achieve outcomes due to the constraints on resourcing created by the size of the organisation. |
Veterans' Affairs New Zealand will set clear expectations around the results required to be achieved and will ensure that priority projects can be staffed effectively.
Resourcing will be monitored to ensure that it is used effectively, and where required, additional resourcing sought. |
| Service delivery fails to meet the needs of a veteran or their family, which results in significant consequences to Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand and, or the veteran. |
Systems will be put in place to monitor service delivery and to ensure that service meets expectations. Mechanisms will be put in place to address issues that arise from any service delivery failure. |
| The purchaser provider division in the service delivery model becomes indistinct and veterans start to view Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand as a health provider as opposed to a purchaser. |
Systems will be put in place to monitor service delivery and to ensure that the role of Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand is clearly explained.
Case Managers’ training will include a clear explanation of the difference between purchaser and provider. |
Organisational Health
As a branch of the New Zealand Defence Force, Veterans' Affairs New Zealand is subject to the policies put in place for the civil staff within the NZDF.
Equal Employment Opportunities
As a branch of the New Zealand Defence Force, Veterans' Affairs New Zealand is subject to the policies put in place for the civil staff within the NZDF.
Information Technology Systems
The NZDF provides information technology support for Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand. Veterans' Affairs New Zealand uses the NZDF corporate systems.
Departmental Capital and Asset Management Intentions
The capital and asset management strategies are managed as part of the overall strategy of the NZDF.
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