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Veterans’ Recognition Bill

Introduction

You could also call this:

"Breaking down the Veterans' Recognition Bill into smaller parts to understand what it says and how it works."

Illustration for Veterans’ Recognition Bill

This Bill is a proposed new law that aims to acknowledge and recognise the military service of veterans. You will be affected by this Bill if you are a veteran or know someone who is. The Bill has several parts that explain what it is about and how it will work.

The Bill starts with a title and a commencement clause, which says when the Bill will come into force. You can expect the Bill to become law on the day after it gets Royal assent. The purpose of the Bill is to acknowledge and recognise the military service of veterans, confirm that certain people are veterans, and establish something called the Covenant.

The Bill defines what a veteran is, which includes former members of the regular or territorial forces who have been awarded certain medals or honours. You might be considered a veteran if you have been awarded the New Zealand Defence Service Medal or other medals for bravery or excellence. The Bill also says that it does not create new rights or obligations, so the support and services available to veterans will not change.

The Bill recognises the military service of veterans and builds on existing forms of recognition, such as commemorative events and medallic recognition. You can expect the Crown to acknowledge and recognise the military service of veterans, and people described as veterans in the Bill can refer to themselves as veterans. The Bill also establishes the Covenant, which is set out in a separate part of the Bill called the Schedule.

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This page was last updated on 17 August 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1467978-clause-by-clause-analysis.

Topics:

Government and voting > Government departmentsRights and equality > Anti-discrimination

Departmental disclosure statement, or

"Information to help you understand the Veterans' Recognition Bill"

1: Title, or

"A law to recognise veterans, called the Veterans' Recognition Act 2025."

Clause by clause analysis

Clause 1 is the Title clause.

Clause 2 is the commencement clause. It provides that this Bill comes into force on the day after Royal assent.

1Preliminary provisions

Clause 3 sets out the purpose of this Bill, which is—

to acknowledge and recognise the military service of veterans; and
to confirm that those persons described as veterans in this Bill are to be known as veterans and may refer to themselves as veterans; and
to establish the Covenant.

Clause 4 defines terms used in the Bill, including veteran. A veteran for the purposes of the Bill is a former member of the regular forces or the territorial forces who has been awarded or is eligible for the New Zealand Defence Service Medal, or a former member of the regular forces or the territorial forces who is awarded, in relation to their service,—

a campaign medal, whether or not the campaign medal relates to a deployment that would constitute qualifying operational service as defined in section 8(2) of the Veterans’ Support Act 2014; or
an honour or a decoration awarded through the New Zealand Royal Honours system; or
a medal for bravery or excellence awarded by the New Zealand Government.

Clause 5 provides that the Bill does not create or give rise to rights or obligations, including under the Veterans’ Support Act 2014. This means that the entitlements, support, and services available under the Veterans’ Support Act 2014 are unaffected.

Clause 6 provides that the Act will bind the Crown.

2Recognition of veterans

Clause 7 provides that the Crown acknowledges and recognises the military service of veterans. The recognition provided in this Bill builds on existing forms of recognition, including commemorative events and activities under other Acts such as the Anzac Day events and activities under the Anzac Day Act 1966, medallic recognition by the New Zealand Government, and honours or decorations awarded through the New Zealand Royal Honours system.

Clause 8 confirms that the persons described as veterans in this Bill are to be known as veterans and may refer to themselves as veterans.

Clause 9 establishes the Covenant and indicates that it is set out in the Schedule.

The Schedule contains the Covenant.