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How veterans are treated on overseas trips to change

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Mon, 11 Jul 2011 7:52a.m.

Australia fully covered the expenses of its veterans (file)

Australia fully covered the expenses of its veterans (file)

The Prime Minister says there will be changes to the way New Zealand treats its war veterans on trips abroad.

Australia fully covered the expenses of its veterans who returned recently to the scene of a Second World War battle on the Greek island of Crete, but New Zealand gave its veterans just $2000, less than the cost of a return air fare.

While most opted for budget accommodation, retiring Defence Minister Wayne Mapp and other officials were staying in luxury, at the taxpayers' expense.

John Key told RadioLIVE's Marcus Lush it raises a legitimate point about the lack of support New Zealand gave its veterans.

RadioLIVE

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Comments

27 Aug 2011 10:46a.m.

msaist wrote:

They should be billeted in Brixton or Tottenham to appreciate the dungheap they helped bring about.

They should have had more geo-political smarts than to get tied up in the whole mess .

13 Jul 2011 11:13a.m.

alien wrote:

it's alright Robert, I typical view vets as murderers. Instead of giving you free trips we should charge you all with murder. quite funny you murderers said nothing under labour who also made you pay some costs but now you cry, something the people you brutally murdered cannot do.

11 Jul 2011 07:44p.m.

ROBERT wrote:

ITS COMMON KNOWLEDGE AMONGST MANY NZ VETERANS THAT AUSTRALIA TREATS THEIR VETS FAR BETTER THAN OUR COUNTRY TREATS US. WE ARE VIRTUALLY REGARDED AS NOT IMPORTANT, COZ WE DONT COMPLAIN AND IF WE DO, WE ARE FOBBED OFF. I LIVE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY NOW. I HAVE AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH SKIN CANCER. MEDICAL FACILITIES HERE, FOR THIS TYPE OF DISEASE ARE TOTALLY INADEQUATE, THAT MEANS I NEED TO FLY HOME TO GET DECENT TREATMENT. I'M A PENSIONER AND A MALAYAN VETERAN AND THE MILITARY RECOGNISE MY AILMENT BUT VETERANS AFFAIRS WONT PAY MY FARE HOME AND MY ACCOMODATION WHILE I'M THERE, ( MAYBE ONE WEEK ). I'VE ASKED THEM ABOUT IT, BUT TOLD THEY WILL ONLY PAY FOR MY TREATMENT. THE POINT I'M MAKING IS, I KNOW, THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS THEIR VETS MUCH BETTER THAN US.WE'RE LEFT OUT IN THE COLD.

11 Jul 2011 04:15p.m.

jan wrote:

Wayne Mapp needs to pay his costs back to the Tax payer... Typical of this Government who think they are owed and they take. So sorry for those men who went and had to put up with this treatment. If it wasn't for those men we wouldn't have a NZ to sell off to the rest of the world now.

11 Jul 2011 03:08p.m.

ian wrote:

I did not go, but as a Vietnam vet my self, this behavior makes me angry.The atitude and thought lessness of the official party in its entirety is deplorable.The Aussies would have noted and judged accordingly.
It needs an appology to be made by Wayne Mapp.

11 Jul 2011 11:04a.m.

mozzie wrote:

My grandad was a part of this scam never again he said what a disgrace NZ he also said instead of them meeting for a beer with officials a lot of them were having beers with backpackers apparently the hob nobs were drinking with the fairdinkum Aussie diggers not a kiwi veteran in sight what a shame.