11. Question No. 11—VeteransIBRAHIM OMER (Labour) to the Minister for VeteransQuestion No. 11—Veterans11. IBRAHIM OMER (Labour) to the Minister for Veterans: What recent changes have been made in support of New Zealand Vietnam veterans affected by chemicals like Agent Orange during the Vietnam War?Hon MEKA WHAITIRI (Minister for Veterans): I'm very pleased to announce to the House that the ex gratia payments totalling $29.6 million has been made to 740 Vietnam veterans between December 2021 and March 2022 as part of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed in 2006 between the Crown Vietnam veterans and the RSA. The MOU accepted that exposure of service personnel to herbicides and defoliants was a major contributor to the ongoing suffering of our veterans and their families. I realise the money cannot fully compensate our Vietnam veterans for the hardships and inevitable distress they have experienced but I hope this small gesture does go some way towards recognising their suffering and that of their family. I thank all current and ex-servicemen—and women—on behalf of all New Zealand for their service and for the sacrifices they have made for this country.Ibrahim Omer: What new illnesses appear on the United States National Academy of Sciences' list of conditions associated with chemicals of interest—in this case Agent Orange?Hon MEKA WHAITIRI: When the MOU was signed there were five conditions on the United States National Academy of Sciences' list. The MOU recognised that other conditions might be added in the future. Two new conditions have been added including monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and hypertension. This means that under the terms of the MOU Vietnam veterans in New Zealand who have been diagnosed with these new conditions are now entitled to an ex gratia payment of $40000. If they have died of the condition before receiving an ex gratia payment their spouse or partner may be entitled to $25000. As I've noted a total of $29.6 million has been paid to 740 Vietnam veterans who have met one of these new conditions. Further payments will be made as applications from veterans spouses and families are received. In some cases the ex gratia payment of $40000 can be life changing. This support from the Government shows the commitment we have for our veterans.Ibrahim Omer: What steps were taken to recognise and recompense Vietnam veterans?Hon MEKA WHAITIRI: In 2005 a report of the Joint Working Group on Concerns of Viet Nam Veterans to the Government comprised three main major themes: acknowledging the past putting things right and improving services to Vietnam veterans. These themes form the basis of the measures and support agreed to in the memorandum of understanding. The Government does take seriously its commitment to the veterans who served in Vietnam. The MOU was signed in 2006 after the Helen Clark Government accepted that the exposure of service personnel to dioxide-contaminated herbicides and other chemicals was a major contributor to the ongoing suffering of veterans and their families. The MOU defines these conditions as those that appear on United States National Academy of Sciences' list of conditions where there is sufficient evidence of association between the chemicals of interest in this case Agent Orange and health outcomes." This list is based on an overview of international research and databases dealing with the association between herbicides such as Agent Orange and particular health conditions."