7. Defence Force—Repatriation of RemainsDARROCH BALL (NZ First) to the Minister for VeteransDefence Force—Repatriation of Remains7. DARROCH BALL (NZ First) to the Minister for Veterans: What progress if any has been made regarding the repatriation of the remains of New Zealand military personnel and dependants who were buried overseas after 1 January 1955?Hon RON MARK (Minister for Veterans): Tēnā koutou e ō tātau tini mate koutou kua whetūrangitia ki te korowai o Ranginui koutou kua wehe atu ki te pō ki te tua o te ārai ki te okiokinga i ō tātau tupuna; haere haere haere![Acknowledgments to you collectively our innumerable deaths who have become immortalised upon the cloak of the great Sky Father who have departed to the void and beyond the veil to the resting place of our forefathers; depart go forth travel on!]Earlier today I was very pleased to announce that the Government has extended an offer of repatriation to the families of all service personnel and their dependants who were buried overseas after 1 January 1955. Today's announcement expands the decision made by the previous Government who offered repatriation for service personnel and dependants buried in Malaysia and Singapore to now include those buried in Fiji American Samoa the United Kingdom and the Republic of Korea. This is the right thing to do. Can I thank Paul Thomas and Andrew Peters who initiated the call to return our fallen from Malaysia and Singapore and who petitioned Parliament on this issue.Darroch Ball: Why were these remains not repatriated in the past?Hon RON MARK: Prior to 1955 it was Government policy to bury our fallen personnel overseas close to where they died. This changed in 1955 and between 1955 and 1971 personnel could be brought home at the cost of their family. This created an inequity because many families could not afford to bring their loved ones home and this caused pain and heartache which their families have lived with ever since. In 1971 the Government began picking up the bill but it was not backdated to 1955 when the policy change occurred.Darroch Ball: How will the Government support the families who accept the offer of repatriation?Hon RON MARK: The Government has agreed to fund the disinterment repatriation and re-interment of the fallen at no cost to families. A contribution of $1000 will be made towards a memorial for those re-interred in a private or a public ceremony. The New Zealand Defence Force has assigned liaison officers to the families and will also offer additional support to re-interments if families request that such as pallbearers a chaplain and a bugler. If a family does not wish for their loved one to be repatriated then the New Zealand Government will continue to care for their graves overseas.Darroch Ball: When will the remains be returned to New Zealand?Hon RON MARK: Four arrival ceremonies will be conducted in New Zealand between May and October of this year. All ceremonies will include senior representatives of the nation senior defence officers and officials and representatives from veterans organisations and communities. We want to make this process as dignified and as peaceful as possible for the families. On behalf of the coalition Government and the Prime Minister I want to assure the families that the team from the New Zealand Defence Force will take care of them and their loved ones. They will be in good hands.