Defence Portfolio
Briefing to the Incoming Government 2005
Veterans' Affairs New Zealand
Veterans' Affairs New Zealand (VANZ), formerly the Office of Veterans' Affairs, was set up as a semi-autonomous body within the NZDF in April 1999. Headed by the Director VANZ, VANZ is the Government's principal policy adviser on veterans' issues, and manages the Government's relationship with veterans' and their representative organisations.
The portfolio Veterans' Affairs comprises two Votes:
Vote: Veterans' Affairs - Defence is administered by VANZ and includes the provision of policy advice on, and administration of, a wide range of issues relating to veterans entitlements, care and recognition. This includes the assessment and review of entitlements and benefits, the management of the Rehabilitation Loan Scheme, the provision of case management, the co-ordination of commemorations, services to relevant boards and committees, the provision of memorial plaques and headstones, the quality audit of work undertaken in the Services Cemeteries and the administration involved in arranging contracts for the maintenance of, and capital works in, Services Cemeteries; and
Vote: Veterans' Affairs - Social Development is administered by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) and includes the processing and payment of War Disablement and Veterans' Pensions and concessions, and Rehabilitation Loan Scheme payments. This includes data collection and contributing to the monitoring, evaluation, reporting of trends and risks to Crown expenditure and forecasting of benefits and other unrequited expenses.
The relationship between Veterans' Affairs New Zealand and MSD is critical to the effective processing of War Disablement Pensions and Veterans' Pensions. This relationship is formalised in a service delivery and policy agreement.
The Chief of Defence Force, as 'Chief Executive' of the NZDF, is responsible to the Minister of Veterans' Affairs for the financial management of VANZ under the Public Finance Act 1989. The relationship between the Minister of Veterans' Affairs and the Chief of Defence Force is represented by an Output Plan. The Director, VANZ, on behalf of the Chief of Defence Force, is responsible to the Minister of Veterans' Affairs for the delivery of the Output Plan.
The Director Veterans' Affairs New Zealand is also appointed as the Secretary for War Pensions. Under the provisions of Section 4 (2) of the War Pensions Act 1954, the Secretary for War Pensions, acting under the general direction and control of the Minister, is charged with the administration of the War Pensions Act 1954.
