By KEVIN TAYLOR
The Government came under swift political pressure yesterday after the Agent Orange inquiry's findings were made public.
Opposition MPs were quick to call for compensation and apologies to Vietnam veterans.
Pita Paraone, New Zealand First MP and a member of the health select committee that made the inquiry, said Labour MPs had "arrogantly" blocked its attempt to include a recommendation for the Government to compensate veterans and apologise.
He said the inquiry showed Agent Orange exposure was linked to many health problems, including cancers, blindness and birth defects in veterans' children.
"Now that has been recognised, it is time to allow some closure on what has been a long and dispiriting battle for validation and recognition of their war experiences."
Official Government reaction to the inquiry was muted.
Veterans Affairs Minister George Hawkins said it would examine the findings and report to Parliament within the required 90 days.
He said the war pension system recognised that defoliants and other chemicals used in Vietnam had created health risks, and enabled veterans to claim for any disability they believed was attributable or aggravated by their service.
Previous Governments had acknowledged that New Zealand troops operated in areas where defoliants were used, but it was the present Government that had insisted on a proper investigation, he said.
National MP and committee member Judith Collins said the whole issue had been an "absolute tragedy" for veterans and their families.
"Veterans were told for 30-odd years that this did not happen to them," she said.
"The really important thing for me in this inquiry is that we got the facts out that this really did happen - not once but 350 times."
Green MP and committee member Sue Kedgley also urged the Government to apologise.
And she said residents of the New Plymouth suburb of Paritutu were New Zealand's equivalent of Vietnam veterans because of their exposure to dioxin from the former Ivon Watkins-Dow plant that made 2,4,5-T until 1987.
The herbicide is one of two components of Agent Orange.
Returned Services Association national president John Campbell said: "The impact on Vietnam veterans, their children and their families is now finally recognised.
"The Agent Orange issue is one that has caused considerable pain, hurt and anger among Vietnam veterans."
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