Commonwealth and allied country plaque and headstone funding
We will fund amendments to plaques or headstones when someone's partner was interred and had a plaque or headstone installed or ordered before 1 July 2016.
As of 1 July 2016, we ceased our previous practice of funding plaques and headstones for Commonwealth and Allied veterans. This includes funding remakes of plaques and headstones to add the names of spouses or partners.
This change has come about because the Veterans' Support Act 2014 does not provide entitlements for veterans of any armed forces, other than those of New Zealand. Therefore, we have no legal authority to fund plaques for veterans other than those New Zealand veterans who are eligible because they have Operational Service under the Burial and Cremation Act.
We continued to fund plaques for Commonwealth and Allied veterans until 1 July 2016 as a transitional arrangement. The transitional arrangement ceased on 1 July 2016.
We'll fund amendments to plaques or headstones when a partner has been interred and their plaque or headstone had been installed or ordered before 1 July 2016. This is because these people may have been advised that funding would be available to amend the plaque on the death of the spouse or partner.
For Commonwealth and Allied veterans — and their spouses or partners — interred in service cemeteries
Where there is a pre-existing plaque or headstone installed or ordered before 1 July 2016, we will provide a fully funded remake of the plaque or headstone to add the name of a spouse or partner — or in some cases the name and details of the veteran, if the existing plaque or headstone was for the spouse or partner only.
Where there is no pre-existing plaque or headstone — or the existing plaque or headstone was applied for after 1 July 2016 — the family will need to meet the cost of a plaque or headstone.
For Commonwealth and Allied veterans — and their spouses or partners — interred in public or private cemeteries
Where we contributed to the cost or agreed to contribute to the cost of a plaque or headstone before 1 July 2016, we will also contribute towards the cost of having this remade to add the name of a spouse or partner — or in some cases the name and details of the veteran, if the existing plaque or headstone was for the spouse or partner only. A contribution to the plaque or headstone is up to a maximum of $1,000.
Where there is no pre-existing plaque or headstone — or the existing plaque or headstone was applied for after 1 July 2016 — the family will need to meet the cost of a plaque or headstone.