‘Year of the Veteran’
Badges and Certificates of Appreciation

The ‘Year of the Veteran’ Certificates of Appreciation and Lapel Badges are an expression of appreciation to those who have served New Zealand in a recognised war or emergency.

The ‘Year of the Veteran’ Certificates of Appreciation and Lapel Badge do not confer any eligibility for entitlements under the War Pensions Act 1954.

Who can apply?
Any veteran of a recognised war or emergency can apply. For example anyone with service in World War II, BCOF (Japan), Korean War, Malayan Emergency, Vietnam War, Operation Grapple, East Timor, peacekeeping operations, etc.

How do you apply?
To make application you need to complete a ‘Year of the Veteran’ Certificates of Appreciation and Lapel Badge application form.

This form is available on this page or from Veterans' Affairs New Zealand. You can contact Veterans' Affairs New Zealand on free phone 0800 483 8372, via email at veterans@xtra.co.nz, or by writing to:

Veterans' Affairs New Zealand
PO Box 5146
Wellington

What evidence is required?
With your application you need to provide evidence of your service. This could be:

•  a Certificate of Service; or
•  a copy of your Service Record; or
•  if you are in receipt of a War Disablement Pension your  war pension number; or
•  any other documented evidence that you have that  provides a record of your service in the New Zealand  Armed Forces.

If you don't have any documentary evidence of your service you will need to provide your service number and the dates you served so that your service can be verified.

If you have no documentation, Veterans' Affairs New Zealand will undertake the verification on the applicant's behalf.

How will the Certificate and Lapel Badge be Presented?
You can choose to have your Certificate of Appreciation and Lapel Badge couriered to you or presented to you.

If you choose to have the Certificate of Appreciation and Lapel Badge presented, you will be invited to a ceremony in your region where these will be presented.

What Veterans' Affairs New Zealand want you to do
Complete the application form, attach any supporting information and send it to:

‘Year of the Veteran'
Veterans' Affairs New Zealand
PO Box 5146
Wellington

Closing Date for Applications
Applications can be made at any time up until 30 November 2006.

Privacy
The information contained in this application will only be used to make a decision on the award of the Certificate of Appreciation and Lapel Badge.

Application Form
An application form is availble here for you to download in either Adobe Acrobat PDF or Microsoft Word format.

Application for Year of the Veteran Certificate of Appreciation and Lapel Badge
(56k PDF document)
Requires Acrobat Reader

Application for Year of the Veteran Certificate of Appreciation and Lapel Badge
(147k PDF document)

Related Link

Veterans' Affairs New Zealand
www.veteransaffairs.mil.nz