More NZ veterans eligible for pensions

File photo / NZ Herald

More than 1000 New Zealand veterans have become eligible for war pensions after the Government said it would recognise ten new overseas deployments.

Veterans' Affairs Minister Nathan Guy said $4.8 million had been allocated in Budget 2012 for war pension coverage over the next four years.

"This means that veterans will be eligible for a War Disablement Pension for any disability that occurred as a result of service in these overseas missions."

The new deployments that would be recognised dated back to 1979 and included operations in the Middle East, Africa, South-East Asia and other regions.

Mr Guy said 1097 additional war veterans would be able to receive assistance under the War Pensions Act 1954.

The new coverage came about after the ten deployments were reclassified as "emergencies", and the pensions could be claimed from July 1.

Deployments now eligible for war pensions:

# Rhodesia - Operation Midford (1979 - 1980)

# Afghanistan - Mine clearing training team (1991)

# Iraq - United Nations Special Commission (1991 - 1999)

# Iraq - United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (2002 - 2003)

# Cambodia - United Nations Advance Mission (1991 - 1992); Mine Action Centre and Mine Clearance Training Unit (1991 - 1993); and United Nations Transitional Authority (1992 - 1993)

# Somalia - United Nations Operations (1993 - 1995)

# Haiti - United Nations Mission (1994 - 1995)

# Bougainville - South Pacific Peacekeeping Force (1994); Truce Monitoring Group (1997 - 1998); and Peace Monitoring Group (1998 - 2003)

# Sudan - United Nations Mission (2005 - present)

# Southern Lebanon - United Nations Mine Action Coordination Centre (2007 - 2008)