In accordance with section 9 of the Veterans’ Support Act 2014 (“Act”), I hereby give the following notice.

Notice

1. I declare service in:
   • what is now the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the air space above it between 1 December 2001 and 31 December 2016 (inclusive) to be operational service for the purposes of the Act; and
   • the Kyrgyz Republic between 1 August 2003 and 30 September 2003 (inclusive) to be operational service for the purposes of the Act.
2. This declaration supersedes:
   • the declaration of emergency status made under the War Pension Act 1954 for service outside the territory of New Zealand on or after 12 December 2001 as part of Operation Concord (Operation Enduring Freedom), which was made by the Honourable Mark Burton on 20 December 2001;
   • the declaration of emergency status made under the War Pension Act 1954 for service outside the territory of New Zealand on or after 27 January 2002 as part of Operation Kiwi Stand (Operation Enduring Freedom), which was made by the Honourable Mark Burton on 6 June 2002;
   • the declaration of emergency status made under the War Pension Act 1954 for service outside the territory of New Zealand on or after 5 May 2002 as part of Operation Cracker (Operation Enduring Freedom), which was made by the Honourable George Hawkins on 9 September 2003;
   • the declaration of emergency status made under the War Pension Act 1954 for service outside the territory of New Zealand on or after 6 December 2002 until 4 August 2003 as part of Operation Ariki (Operation Enduring Freedom), which was made by the Honourable George Hawkins on 9 September 2003;
   • the declaration of emergency status made under the War Pension Act 1954 for service outside the territory of New Zealand on or after 1 July 2003 as part of Operation Tui (Operation Enduring Freedom), which was made by the Honourable George Hawkins on 9 September 2003;
   • the declaration of emergency status made under the War Pension Act 1954 for service outside the territory of New Zealand on or after 1 July 2003 as part of Task Group Crib (Operation Enduring Freedom), which was made by the Honourable George Hawkins on 9 September 2003; and
   • the declaration of operational service made under the Veterans’ Support Act 2014 for service in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the air space above it between 1 July 2014 and 31 December 2016 (inclusive), which was made by the Honourable Craig Foss on 6 August 2015.
3. This declaration covers:
• members of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) serving with the NZDF;
• members of the NZDF on secondment with the armed forces of other nations; and
• any person seconded to the NZDF with the permission of the Chief of Defence Force.
4. The persons covered by this declaration shall have access to the entitlements and services specified in the Act and the Veterans’ Support Regulations 2014.
5. I am satisfied that there was a significant risk of harm to those that undertook this service, as required by the Act.

Dated this 14th day of January 2016.

Hon CRAIG FOSS, Minister of Veterans’ Affairs.