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Association update December 2023

Tēnā koe <<First Name>>,

A message from your National President

to continue working and delivering support to those in need. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who support our volunteers, who give them the strength to face the challenges presented, and sacrifice their own time with their loved one for the good of others. Your support is appreciated by us all.

It’s been just over a month since I returned from Europe, and it’s been an incredibly busy time. Meetings with the Chief of Defence Force and the three Service Chiefs, a trip to Otago and Southland where I got to spend time at the Alexandra, Milton and Gore RSA’s, and of course we also had the first part of National Council being the AGM.

I want to thank everyone who participated in the AGM for their enthusiasm and willingness to take part online. The digital meeting environment is not without its challenges, but I was really pleased with how we were able to interact with RSA’s around the country in a meaningful way. We were incredibly honoured to have a personal message from our new Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to open the meeting - and it just might have been the very first message he’s recorded since being elected. If you didn’t see the message during the AGM, there is a link available later in the newsletter that will allow you to view it.

Most importantly, during the AGM a remit was passed to establish an advisory group to publicly advocate for the amendment of the Veterans’ Support Act 2014. This group will put the RSA at the forefront of advocating for change to legislation that will improve the lives, and access to support, for all New Zealand’s veterans of military service.

In the next few days I’ll be heading off to Gisborne where I hope to meet with as many members from the East Coast RSA’s as possible. Along with the Board Chair and Chief Executive we have a number of activities planned including another presentation on RSA2030. Travel around the East Coast remains difficult, but we were determined to get there before the end of the year and create an opportunity to hear from the local RSA’s firsthand.

Finally, I want to take this opportunity to wish you a safe and happy holiday season spent doing whatever it is that brings you joy. Whether that’s fishing, golf, spending time with family, getting out on a bike - may you find time to relax and refresh for the year ahead… it’s going to be another busy one.

Ngā mihi o te Kirihimete me te Tau Hou - Season’s greetings for Christmas and the New Year.

In this edition:

• National Council

• New Advisory Group - Veteran’s Support Act 2014

• Requesting NZDF support for Anzac Day

• NZDF visitors to RSA’s over summer

• Support Services Contacts over Holiday period

• National Office Closedown period

• 2024 Membership Cards

• Poppy Orders

• Facebook group for Association Executives

• Association Spotlight - Otautau RSA

• Winner of Book Giveaway

• A message from your National Office Team

• Public Notices

  • Car Raffle

National Council

The 107th National Council is being held in two parts. The first part, the AGM, was held online on Saturday 25 November.

During the opening ceremony a video from the new Prime Minister the Rt Hon Christopher Luxon was played to welcome delegates. Those who were unable to attend the AGM can view the video here.

The AGM used a range of technologies to deliver the online experience, and while there were a few minor technical issues, delegates were able to vote on all issues presented and had the opportunity to engage with the presenters and raise questions.

The only Notice of Motion presented at the AGM was: “That the RNZRSA establish an advisory group to publicly advocate for the amendment of VSA 2014, to remove the discriminatory nature of the Act and ensure that all veterans are supported equally.” The Notice of Motion was passed.

All other AGM business was also passed (Confirmation of previous minutes, National President, Board Chair, Chief Executive and National Poppy Trust Chair’s reports were accepted and consolidated financial reports were accepted).

The draft minutes can be viewed here.

Part Two of National Council, the one-day in-person workshop is being held in Wellington on 24 February 2024. The focus of this workshop is to look at options for the new RNZRSA Constitution. More details will be provided soon.

New Advisory Group - Veterans’ Support Act 2014

A Notice of Motion was passed at National Council to establish an advisory group to publicly advocate for the amendment of the Veterans’ Support Act 2014 (VSA2014).

Led by RNZRSA Senior Advocate Ross Himona, and sponsored by National Vice President Janet Castell, the advisory group will campaign to have the term “veteran” redefined to include all who have served, not just those with qualifying operational service.

VSA2014 in its current form discriminates between those who served prior to April 1974 and those who served after, with different levels of support available depending on the date of service. The advisory group will campaign to remove all discriminatory elements of the legislation - and ensure all veterans have equal entitlement to support.

There are a range of other issues within the legislation that the advisory group will work to address, including the support available to the whānau of those who have served, particularly surviving spouses.

There is much to do, and the advisory group are already underway doing the mahi required to make meaningful change for New Zealand’s veterans of military service.

We will provide regular updates from the advisory group in this newsletter.

Requesting NZDF support for Anzac Day

The NZDF have changed the way support is requested for Anzac Day. Regardless of any existing relationships RSA’s may have with units, the NZDF have requested that all requests for support are made using the form found at the link (or using the QR code) below.

The form asks for basic contact details, and once the type of service is selected (Dawn or Civic) more fields will become available to enter the exact sort of support you are requesting.

The NZDF have provided the following guidelines for RSA’s requesting support:

Examples of support the NZDF is able to provide at a local level include guest speakers, wreath bearers and layers, flag orderlies and potentially buglers and parade commanders.

Requests for flypasts may be considered depending on operational priorities. Firing parties will not be provided to domestic Anzac Day commemorations.

Catafalque guards will only be provided at the national commemorative services at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park, Atatürk Memorial and the Auckland War Memorial Museum, and at designated services identified by the NZDF’s Heritage Commemorations and Protocol unit. This is due to protocol, practicality and security reasons.

See the full guidelines here

The NZDF would like requests for support submitted as soon as possible and no later than Friday 29 March 2024.

NZDF visitors to RSA’s over summer

Over the summer months New Zealand Defence Force personnel will be holidaying around the country and may want to visit an RSA close to where they are staying.

In the past, some RSA’s have turned NZDF personnel away if they do not have someone accompanying them that can sign them in. This has a significant effect on the RSA’s reputation as we are seen as unwelcoming to those who are currently serving.

All RSA’s should welcome NZDF personnel into their establishments regardless of whether or not they are accompanied by an existing member. In order to comply with licensing requirements the following steps should be taken:

• Confirm they are currently serving NZDF personnel by sighting their NZDF ID card.

• Ask whether they are accompanied by an existing RSA member

• If they are, the existing RSA member can sign them in.

• If they are not accompanied by an existing RSA member, the Duty Bar Manager should be called on to sign them in. By the definition of their position, the Duty Bar Manager has overall responsibility for all patrons within the facility.

Let’s make it a welcoming summer for all NZDF personnel travelling the country. This is our chance to demonstrate that the RSA is here for them and become somewhere they want to be all year round.

Support Services Contact Details over Holiday Period

Support services are available to veterans and their whānau throughout the holiday period.

All District Support Managers are available on-call throughout the period. You can find the contact details for your nearest DSM here.

In urgent cases, please contact your DSM in the first instance. If the DSM is unavailable, the National Support Services Team are available to assist. Please contact the team in the following order:

Primary Contact - Rob Todman: 021 256 2180

Secondary Contact - Danny Nelson: 027 202 3931

Alternate Contact - Andrew Brown: 027 247 0967

National Office Closedown Period

The National Office will be closed from 5pm on 22 December and will reopen on Monday 8 January.

Urgent enquiries during this time should be directed to enquiries@rsa.org.nz which will be monitored by the National Office staff member on call.

Only urgent enquiries will be responded to immediately, all others will be held over until the office reopens.

2024 Membership Cards

The blank 2024 membership cards have been received at National Office and cards are currently being printed and dispatched to those RSA’s who have already placed orders.

RSA’s can submit orders for membership cards through Basecamp.

An RSA membership card is more than just proof of membership, it also contains the membership number needed to access the discounts available through the RSA App.

If you have any questions regarding membership cards, please email enquiries@rsa.org.nz

Truck poppies are also available in lots of 10 for $240. Associations wishing to purchase these can do so by contacting Celyn: Celynb@rsa.org.nz

Facebook group for Association Executives

A Facebook group has been created as an additional means of improving information flow from National Office to Association Executives, and to provide a safe forum for Association Executives to seek support and advice from each other.

The group will also be used as one of the means to issue emergency communications when needed.

Membership of the group is restricted to Association Executives, and those joining the group will be required to provide their name, RSA affiliation and position on the executive to ensure the integrity of the group is maintained.

Membership does require individuals to have an existing Facebook profile to join.

Association Spotlight - Otautau RSA

From L-R: Ian Beker President Awarua RSA, Rob Scott Mayor of Southland District, Chris Jonstone President Tuatapere RSA, Michael Weusten President Riverton RSA and Andre Bekhuis President Otautau RSA.

The Otautau RSA has brought home an incredible piece of World War One memorabilia connected to the Otautau community.

A quilt was made in 1918 by Otautau residents as a fundraiser for the Red Cross, locals bought squares of calico and red embroidery cotton and then hand-embroidered names, quotes and imagery representing the community of Otautau.

The quilt was raffled in a charity fundraiser. The winner of the raffle was a returned soldier who succumbed to his war injuries and the quilt was left to his mother. Unable to cope with the reminder of the tragedy of war, the quilt was put back up for sale and made its way to Scotland.

In June this year, the quilt came up for auction in Leicestershire, England and the Otautau RSA were the successful bidders.

The auction was nervewracking for Otautau RSA President Andre Bekhuis as the opportunity to bring home such an incredible artefact hung in the balance. The Otautau RSA was determined to bring the quilt home with all its members contributing to the auction.

The quilt has around 76 calico panels featuring many names of Otautau families alongside a range of hand-sewn images and encouraging words and phrases.

The Otautau RSA intend to have the quilt and the around 30 letters documenting the quilt's provenance professionally framed, so it can be displayed in the RSA. The quilt will be brought out at special events such as Anzac Day and there are plans to
offer the quilt for display at the Southland  Museum for special occasions.

Winner of book giveaway

In the last edition of the Association Update, we gave readers the opportunity to win a copy of Keeping the Peace by Greg Allnutt.

The winner was chosen at random by National Vice President Janet Castell.

Congratulations to Michael Weusten - a copy of the book is on its way!

A message from your National Office Team

We wish all Association executives and RSA members across the country a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Public Notices

Car Raffle