Wanganui war veterans have welcomed the new Veterans' Support Bill, passed by Parliament last week, although there are some aspects of the bill that have disappointed them.
Under the bill, lump sum payments for families would go only to veterans with 52 per cent or more disability.
Wanganui RSA manager Dave Large said the percentage amount could be hard to measure and Vietnam veterans were often disadvantaged because the long-term effects of exposure to Agent Orange were gradual and could shorten life expectancy.
"At one time, veterans of that war had a life expectancy of 57," Mr Large said.
"I think diagnosis and treatments have improved since then but people can still have long wait times for treatment."
Wanganui Vietnam veteran Mac McCallion says that the percentage issue does need to be resolved.
"I don't think there is too much more that the country can do, but there's a lot of niggly problems that still need sorting out.
"Vets assist vets and, as a group, we need to push for changes in the ways that ACC and health services deal with our members," he said.
"There needs to be more flexibility with the assessment process and how the level of disability is calculated."
In 2006, the Government agreed to address health problems associated with exposure to defoliants such as Agent Orange and made a formal apology to veterans and their families.
Mr McCallion says there is a public perception that the number of Vietnam veterans in New Zealand is quite small.
Around 3500 New Zealanders served in Vietnam but Mr McCallion says that when you add up their family members there could be over 20,000 people affected by the war.
"Some of those guys had big families and more than one marriage so we don't really know how many there are."
National RSA president Don McIver said he was disappointed lump sum payments for families would not go to all veterans.
"It should have been opened up to all veterans in the way the other provisions have been.
"It would have cost a bit of money but we believe it would have been a genuine expression of gratitude to all those who served."
Changes to the original 1954 bill include the introduction of two schemes, one for veterans who served before 1974, and another for veterans who served after that time and were covered by ACC.
Scheme One of the bill will come into force in early December and Scheme Two will come into force 12 months later.