21 October 2025
Spencer Jones
[FYI request #32578 email] Dear Spencer
RESPONSE TO YOUR OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT REQUEST
Thank you for your email of 15 October 2025, in which you requested, pursuant to the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following information:
Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request the following information regarding the
Ministry’s policy advice and New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) data on veteran
eligibility under the Veterans’ Support Act 2014, focusing on issues from the Paterson
Report (2018), including Recommendation 63 on broadening the “veteran” definition:
1. Eligibility and Transition Statistics (2020–2025):
Annual NZDF data on serving personnel transitioning to veteran status, including
numbers assessed for qualifying operational service and rates of exclusion due to
non-operational roles.
Breakdown of health/mental health referrals from NZDF to VANZ or ACC, with
approval/denial rates for service-related conditions (e.g., PTSD, chronic injuries).
2. Paterson Report Implementation (NZDF/MoD Input):
Copies of MoD policy advice or briefing papers (2023–2025) on implementing
Recommendation 63, including cost-benefit analyses for universal eligibility
covering all NZDF service members.
NZDF internal reviews or consultations on the two-tier system (Scheme One vs.
Two) and its impact on post-1974 veterans’ access to support.
3. Coordination and Gaps:
Details of MoD/NZDF protocols for data-sharing with VANZ/ACC on eligibility
(e.g., service records for claims), including any identified gaps from the 2019
Veterans’ Advisory Board Report.
Number of NZDF-supported deployment reviews (post-2020) that affected
eligibility, with anonymized examples of added/excluded operations.
The Ministry of Defence has not been involved in the matters you raise, and no relevant
information has been identified. As such, your request is declined pursuant to section 18(e)
of the Act, as the information requested does not exist or, despite reasonable efforts to locate
it, cannot be found.
I understand that your request has been sent separately to the New Zealand Defence Force.
I can confirm they are best-placed to respond as the responsible agency for Veterans
matters.
Under section 28(3) of the Act you have the right to request the Ombudsman to investigate
and review this response.
Yours sincerely
Hamish Rogers
Deputy Secretary, Governance, People and Executive Services Division
