Robertson H V Ross: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Robertson H V Ross: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:629;Page:1453] 
11.  
H V ROSS ROBERTSON (Labour—Manukau East) 
 to the  
Minister of Veterans' Affairs 
: What funding has he made available to local community groups to enable them to undertake projects and activities to celebrate the Year of the Veteran? 
Hon RUTH DYSON (Minister of Labour) 
 on behalf of the 
 Minister of Veterans’ Affairs 
: I have established a $1 million contestable fund called the Year of the Veteran Community Grants Fund to assist community groups and local authorities to undertake locally focused activities. Submissions to the fund will be assessed by a ministerial working party that consists of membership from Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand the New Zealand Defence Force and the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association. 
H V Ross Robertson 
: What is the purpose of the Year of the Veteran Community Grants Fund? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: The purpose of the Year of the Veteran Community Grants Fund will be to assist community groups and local authorities to refurbish and redecorate local war memorials and honours rolls to hold local veterans’ appreciation days to collect veterans’ stories to hold local concerts and exhibitions and the like. In addition I am making $200000 available to assist with national-level events for the Year of the Veteran. 
Judith Collins 
: In the light of the fact that 2006 is the Year of the Veteran will the Minister support the call of the National Party and the Maori Party and the petition of Harvey Dalton and 540 others for New Zealand - born war hero Nancy Wake finally to be honoured by her country or does she agree with her colleague Jim Anderton that: “being famous and born in New Zealand are not of themselves sufficient reasons for her to be considered for that honour however heroic her history.”? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: I understand that a submission for such recognition has been made to the relevant Cabinet committee and I know that that will be given fair consideration at the appropriate time. 
Tariana Turia 
: At what point will the Government fund the health needs of veterans who fought in Viet Nam and of their families and compensate them so that they will have something to celebrate too in the Year of the Veteran? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: I have been advised that a report is due to be completed by the chair of the joint working-group on Agent Orange soon and it would be inappropriate for me to comment prior to the release of that report. After its completion it would be appropriate to direct any such questions to the Minister of Defence. 
Judith Collins 
: I seek the leave of the House to table a press release from my colleague Sandra Goudie MP for Coromandel asking for Nancy Wake to be honoured. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection. 
Judith Collins 
: I seek the leave of the House to table a copy of my letter to the Prime Minister requesting that Nancy Wake be honoured and the reply from her office. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is. 
Judith Collins 
: I seek the leave of the House to table a copy of an article published in  
Justices Quarterly 
 in December 2005 entitled “Why no gong for Nancy?”. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is. 
Judith Collins 
: I seek the leave of the House to table a copy of an Internet article from the “Heroes” page of the New Zealand Edge website entitled “Warriors: Nancy Wake”. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is. 
Judith Collins 
: I seek the leave of the House to table a copy of a letter from the Hon Jim Anderton to the Rev. Harvey Dalton dated 20 February 2006 in which he— 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is. 
Judith Collins 
: I seek the leave of the House to list for the House the honours awarded to Nancy Wake by the people and Governments of the following countries: Great Britain France the United States of America and Australia. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection.