Editorial: War vets deserve better than this

It's probably a good thing Defence Minister Wayne Mapp is calling it quits at this year's election.
After this week's horrendous gaffe surrounding Battle of Crete war veterans, the minister is less likely to be concerned with matters of Parliament as with the more pressing affair of aggrieved war vets baying for his blood.
Our war veterans who travelled to the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Crete in May paid for their own accommodation but received $2000 from the Government - less than the cost of air fares.
Interestingly, there was no outcry over the Government's contribution at the time. But since it has emerged that Australian veterans were flown to Greece and put up as guests of honour by their government, the anger has been both fast and furious.
Clearly, there's something in our national psyche which objects, in particular, to being bettered by Australians.
Putting to one side comparisons to our bigger brothers over the ditch, the debate over how we treat our war heroes should never have had to happen.
Most people would think it goes without saying that we need to take all measures necessary to treat our veterans in the appropriate fashion.
Nevertheless, this whole sorry mess was still salvageable by the Government, particularly in light of Dr Mapp's assurance that he would talk to Prime Minister John Key about compensation for those veterans who had made the journey to Crete this year.
That was until Dr Mapp yesterday conceded the veterans deserved an apology - and then, when asked to give one, refused.
It would be a particularly bad look in any year, but more so in an election year.
Add to that the revelation that Dr Mapp and a private secretary spent $26,000 on flights and accommodation to get themselves to Crete, and all of a sudden Dr Mapp must be feeling slightly squeamish.
With good reason too. While there's no doubt Dr Mapp needed to represent New Zealand in his official capacity at the Crete commemorations, in no way should it have been at the expense of soldiers who put their lives at risk while serving in theatres of war.
The excuse that the Veterans Affairs' budget had been exhausted and the limited support provided to the veterans had come from the Prime Minister's budget is nothing short of a cop-out.
These celebrations would have been signposted well in advance, and simple budgeting should have provided the means for our war veterans to be there in the manner in which they deserve.
Feedback: editor@wanganuichronicle.co.nz