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

Notice

1. I declare service in the:
   • Arabian Sea and the territorial waters of states bordering the Arabian Sea between 1 March 2003 and 31 July 2003 (inclusive), between 1 April 2004 and 31 August 2004 (inclusive) and between 1 May 2008 and 31 August 2008 (inclusive) to be operational service for the purposes of the Act;
   • Kingdom of Bahrain and its territorial waters between 1 March 2003 and 31 August 2004 (inclusive) and between 1 May 2008 and 31 August 2008 (inclusive) to be operational service for the purposes of the Act;
   • Gulf of Aden and the territorial waters of states bordering the Gulf of Aden between 1 April 2004 and 31 August 2004 (inclusive) to be operational service for the purposes of the Act;
   • Gulf of Oman and the territorial waters of states bordering the Gulf of Oman between 1 March 2003 and 31 July 2003 (inclusive) to be operational service for the purposes of the Act;
   • states in the Horn of Africa, their territorial waters and the waters off the Horn of Africa between 1 April 2004 and 31 August 2004 (inclusive) to be operational service for the purposes of the Act;
   • Persian Gulf and the territorial waters of states bordering the Persian Gulf between 1 May 2008 and 31 August 2008 (inclusive) to be operational service for the purposes of the Act;
   • Red Sea and the territorial waters of states bordering the Red Sea and between 1 April 2004 and 31 August 2004 (inclusive) to be operational service for the purposes of the Act;
   • Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its territorial waters between 1 April 2004 and 31 August 2004 (inclusive) to be operational service for the purposes of the Act;
   • United Arab Emirates and its territorial waters between 1 March 2003 and 30 September 2008 (inclusive) to be operational service for the purposes of the Act; and
   • Republic of Yemen and its territorial waters between 1 April 2004 and 31 August 2004 (inclusive) to be operational service for the purposes of the Act.
2. To avoid doubt, this declaration covers flight operations by helicopters aboard Royal New Zealand Navy vessels in these geographic areas during the prescribed periods of time.
3. 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 16 May 2003 as part of Operation Troy (Operation Enduring Freedom), which was made by the Honourable George Hawkins on 9 September 2003.
4. 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.
5. The persons covered by this declaration shall have access to the entitlements and services specified in the Act and the Veterans’ Support Regulations 2014.
6. 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.