Whaitiri Meka: Veterans’ Support Bill — First ReadingText is subject to correctionWhaitiri Meka: Veterans’ Support Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 22 October 2013. Volume:694;Page:14115. Text is subject to correction.]MEKA WHAITIRI (Labour—Ikaroa-Rāwhiti):Tēnā koe Mr Assistant Speaker.Tēnātātou katoae te Whare etunei. It is a great honour to take a short call on this very important bill the Veterans’ Support Bill. Can I say that there is nothing more humbling or that creates a sense of pride than remembering our veterans who have served our great nation not just on Anzac Day but at times like this when we are supporting an important bill like this.My dad was 8 years old when World War II broke out and 14 when World War II ended. Unlike his older brother and his uncle who joined the28thMāori Battalion my dad had to wait for the Korean War. I just want to stand on my feet and acknowledge the member Melissa Lee. I acknowledge you for your moving speech Melissa and for your recognition of our veterans who served in Korea. My dad served there so I take your word and say kia ora sister. It is a serious issue that we have in front of us.I was sharing the personal stories of finding myself in Rome in 2010. My whole intent of travelling there was to do two things. One was to track down the carver of thePānia of the Reefstatue inCarrara city and the other was to visit my dad’s brother and uncle in their grave sites. It is amazing to me that I needed to go to the grave sites so I journeyed up to the mid-eastern side of Italy not knowing that both my uncle and grand-uncle died on 15 December 1944 at the tender age of 22 passing away on the same day but buried in two different graves inForli andFaenza. I want to acknowledge the 28thMāori Battalion website because without that website I would have had no idea where to locate my uncle and my grand-uncle.I say to the Speaker and to this House that it is one of the most moving occasions to walk along row upon row of young Kiwi soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrificein giving their lives for freedom liberty and justice for all. That was a sobering time in my time in Italy but one that will remain with me. In coming back and sharing that story with my father I know he was very proud that somebody was able to go to the grave sites of his brother and his uncle whom he remembers fondly as a young boy growing up.In terms of personal relationships my dad was fortunate enough to travel back to Korea 50 years after serving there for 2 and a bit years. His sharing of his time there as Melissa Lee quite rightly shared with the House is the remembrance of a very very cold harsh Korean winter. My dad served as a gunner. Back in those days—and I am glad this bill is addressing not just physical but psychological and environmental risks—my dad suffered hearing problems. Sitting on gunners he never had any ear protection so I am standing in his honour and memory and for all the other veterans who suffered during their time serving this great country. I join with this side of the House in recommending that this bill go to the Social Services Committee and I look forward to the closer scrutiny that will require. Kia oratātou.