Our 2011 election manifesto - Labour Party

Central to these will be an expert panel that is independent and transparent with the
requirement to report to the Government on health issues of concern within the veteran
community.
Veteran‟s Pension portability
The portability of the Veteran‟s Pension has been a vexed issue with the veteran community
for some time as it is linked to the conditions of National Superannuation. The purpose of the
Veteran‟s Pension is clearly different to National Superannuation.
Labour will untie the linkage between the two, ensuring that the Veteran‟s Pension
stands on its own criteria with specific rules for entitlements particular to the
Veteran‟s Pension and ensuring that it is portable.
The nuclear test veterans are better supported by the New Zealand legislation than many
other groups of veterans in similar circumstances in other jurisdictions, but there are still
issues of concern for the nuclear test veterans.
Labour undertakes to work with the representatives of the RNZRSA and nuclear test
veterans to examine the issues carefully and what might be done to resolve them.
Veterans‟ homes
When in office, Labour provided financial support to two of the three remaining veterans‟
homes, Monticello and Rannerdale, by way of loans with conditions. It is now apparent that
the requirements of this financial support are restricting the ability of these homes to provide
care in the long term for veterans.
Labour acknowledges that the loans to support both rest homes have affected their ability to
raise funding from other sources for development and expansion.
Labour will work with both rest homes to explore all avenues to resolve this issue
favourably for both Rannerdale and Monticello Rest Homes.
Also, these loans are contingent on WWII veterans using their services and given that there
are cohorts of Korean, Malayan, and Vietnam veterans who may wish to use these facilities
in future, Labour will remove this restriction.
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