Dear New Zealand Defence Force, Veterans Affairs.

Tēnā koutou,

I request the following information under the Official Information Act 1982.

This request is confined to records of engagement between Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand (VANZ) and the Minister for Veterans (or Associate Minister, if applicable), since 1 January 2019.

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1️⃣ Ministerial Briefings and Advice

Please provide copies of any briefings, aide-memoires, reports, Cabinet papers, draft briefings, or formal advice provided to the Minister for Veterans since 1 January 2019 that:

a) Refer to referral pathways, navigation assistance, or signposting for veterans beyond statutory entitlements under the Veterans’ Support Act 2014;

b) Discuss interaction between VANZ and:
• The Veterans’ Advisory Board,
• Charitable organisations,
• Community organisations,
• Mainstream government agencies
in relation to veteran support outside statutory benefits;

c) Identify, assess, or comment on service gaps, navigation barriers, or unmet need affecting veterans outside the statutory entitlement framework.

If material is contained within broader briefings, provision of the relevant extracts is sufficient.

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2️⃣ Ministerial Correspondence

Please provide copies of any correspondence (including emails, letters, or meeting notes) between VANZ/NZDF officials and the Minister for Veterans since 1 January 2019 that:

a) Discuss responsibility for veteran navigation outside statutory entitlements;
b) Raise concerns regarding referral coordination; or
c) Refer to implementation implications arising from the Paterson Report in relation to veteran navigation or support coordination.

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3️⃣ Cabinet or Inter-Agency Material

If any Cabinet papers, departmental reports, or inter-agency submissions since 1 January 2019 reference veteran navigation, referral systems, or coordination outside statutory entitlements, please provide copies (or relevant extracts).

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Clarification of Scope

This request:
• Does not seek creation of new analysis;
• Does not request a review of the Veterans’ Support Act 2014;
• Is confined strictly to existing Ministerial interface material;
• Is limited to records held by NZDF / Veterans’ Affairs.

If any part of this request is refused under section 18(e), please provide a description of:
• The systems searched;
• The business units consulted;
• The date range applied; and
• The search terms used.

Kind regards,
Spencer Jones