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 Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the air space above it on or after 1 December 2001 to be operational service for the purposes of the Act, until declared otherwise.
2. This declaration supersedes:
   • 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 December 2001 and 31 December 2016 (inclusive), made by me on 14 January 2016.
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 is a significant risk of harm to those that undertake this service, as required by the Act.

Dated this 13th day of October 2016.

Hon CRAIG FOSS, Minister of Veterans’ Affairs.