1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,480 Speaker 1: Right now. The government broadening the definition today of who 2 00:00:03,560 --> 00:00:09,000 Speaker 1: is an official veteran. This will cover more former soldiers, sailors, aviators, 3 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:12,639 Speaker 1: but they're not going to get extra compensation or pensions. 4 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 1: Chris penk is the minister with me now, High Minister, 5 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:17,960 Speaker 1: good evening. So who are you extending this to. 6 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 2: Well, it's everyone who has served in our armed forces 7 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:26,120 Speaker 2: effectively for three years or more, although if you've gone 8 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 2: on a deployment and you're within that period of time, 9 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:31,400 Speaker 2: you'd be recognized as a veteran. And the point is 10 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 2: that a lot of people join up and serve in 11 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 2: uniforman proudly represent the country and do all the right things. 12 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:40,760 Speaker 2: And actually there's a slightly insulting I think some have said, actually, 13 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:43,560 Speaker 2: and I think they're right that there's an official definition 14 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:46,959 Speaker 2: of veteran on our statute book that actually precludes them. 15 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 2: So we're doing something about that. 16 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:51,040 Speaker 1: So veteran will be even if you haven't served overseas, 17 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:53,720 Speaker 1: you've been based in New Zealand, you can still be 18 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 1: called a veteran. 19 00:00:55,320 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's right. And there are things that the Defense 20 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 2: Force do in New Zealand that actually quite SIGNI if 21 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 2: you think about you know, loss of life following earthquakes 22 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:05,840 Speaker 2: for Katie White Islands. You know, dare I say the 23 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:07,680 Speaker 2: covid roles. 24 00:01:07,959 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 1: I don't think they liked that. 25 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:13,399 Speaker 2: That's all the more recent for them to be recognized 26 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:15,880 Speaker 2: that they do as they're told and they serve us, 27 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:18,040 Speaker 2: you know, in whatever the way that the government of 28 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:19,960 Speaker 2: the DAOs that should be recognized. 29 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:22,560 Speaker 1: So why not give them if you want to recognize them, 30 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:26,240 Speaker 1: why not give, as Willie A. Piata argued, give them 31 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:28,280 Speaker 1: the support as well as the title. 32 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:30,959 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean there are important ways that we can 33 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 2: support contemporary veterans more. And actually that's part of the 34 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:37,559 Speaker 2: reason that we're broadening out the idea of a veteran. 35 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:40,120 Speaker 2: I think if you had to be asked to describe one, 36 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:44,480 Speaker 2: you might say older, a male having served in one 37 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 2: of the World Wars or Vietnam. But the reality is 38 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 2: that actually there are a lot of needs that need 39 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 2: to be taken into account that aren't currently so contemporary 40 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:55,240 Speaker 2: veterans and mental health is a major issues, for example, 41 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 2: So broadening that conversation actually will be helpful in the 42 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 2: while protecting the support entitlements are available for those who 43 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 2: were injured or l in that qualifying operational service. 44 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:08,720 Speaker 1: So will anyone get extra supporter entitlements because of the 45 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:10,359 Speaker 1: change that you've made. 46 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:13,799 Speaker 2: Not under the Veteran Support Act, but by having well, 47 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:16,320 Speaker 2: first of all, by administering that better, by reducing the 48 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:18,959 Speaker 2: time frames that people who are entitled actually get something 49 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:21,640 Speaker 2: meaningful that they're already entitled to. That's a bit of 50 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 2: work we're doing. But actually the recognition, even though you 51 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:27,120 Speaker 2: might think is just symbolic, you know, the symbols in 52 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 2: feeling valued and recognized, is actually really important to people. 53 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:33,320 Speaker 2: They'll do anything for a medal, which, if you want 54 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 2: to reduce it is just a bit of iron with 55 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 2: a bit of ribbon, but actually it means something, so 56 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:39,680 Speaker 2: I think, you know, and certainly the feedback I've been 57 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 2: getting this afternoon is people are really pleased that actually 58 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 2: they're going to feel valued in a way that that 59 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 2: many of them haven't until now. 60 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:49,360 Speaker 1: Chris Penk, Chris pink Rather the Veterans Minister, thanks so 61 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 1: much for your time. Appreciate it. Ten after five for 62 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 1: more from Heather Duplessy Allen Drive. Listen live to news 63 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 1: talks it'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow the 64 00:02:58,160 --> 00:02:59,800 Speaker 1: podcast on iHeartRadio.