Mururoa cancer veteran takes action

Wanganui's Tony Cox is the vice president of the newly formed Mururoa Veterans' Group. Photo/Bevan Conley

Wanganui man Tony Cox wants to build a database of all veterans of Mururoa Atoll and their families.

The former president of the now defunct veterans' advocacy group Rimpac is now the vice-president of the newly formed Mururoa Veterans' Group Inc.

It met for the first time last month in Hastings where Mr Cox said about 50 people attended and there was a video link to Australia.

The group intend to advocate for support for the children and future generations related to veterans affected by French nuclear testing at Mururoa Atoll 40 years ago. Meanwhile, Mr Cox said some veterans themselves hadn't claimed government support they were entitled to or were even aware it was there. Two New Zealand ships, the HMNZS Otago and HMNZS Canterbury along with an Australian supply ship, were involved and veterans from all three ships have formed the group.

"It is election time and it is the right time to get out there and make some noise," he said.

The first task for the group would be to make itself known, Mr Cox said.

"We are not just a bunch of whingers after a fast dollar. They want a guarantee that when they're gone, their kids that are left behind aren't left in the lurch."

Mr Cox said many veterans suffered health problems caused by nuclear fallout. Some of those issues could be passed on to children. The Mururoa Veterans' Group wanted a government support structure put in place.

He said the group would start by building a data base of veterans from Mururoa and their children who were suffering from health problems caused by nuclear fallout. Mr Cox himself has been living with cancer caused by nuclear fallout.