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Deployment review

Deployment review

We have reviewed previous deployments to determine if they should be considered Qualifying Operational Service.

The deployment review is closed

The review of deployments has ended and we are no longer accepting submissions. 

Thanks to everyone who made a submission.

What is the deployment review?

The Veterans' Support Act 2014 (VSA 14) potentially changed the eligibility of some deployments that were previously not considered Qualifying Service. 

Qualifying Service explained

In July 2015, the Chief of Defence Force requested Veterans' Affairs to begin a review of all deployments since the end of the Second World War.

The aim was to ensure that former and current members of the NZDF who had performed qualifying operational service as defined in the Veterans’ Support Act 2014 are eligible to access its entitlements, supports, and services.

As those who served prior to 1 April 1974 already have access to these entitlements, the review focussed on deployments after 1 April 1974.

Criteria for the reconsideration

In 2015, the Minister of Veterans’ Affairs agreed that to be declared qualifying operational service, the deployment:

  • must have been appropriately authorised and be either warlike, hazardous, or non-warlike service as defined in Defence Force Order 3
  • must have an overall operational or health threat level of medium or higher in accordance with the Military Threat Assessment (MTA publication 2.0.1.1)
  • would be named in the declaration according to geographical location rather than by an operational name, as had been previous practice.

The review was open for public submissions for two years

On 7 January 2019, we invited the public to give submissions on deployments they believed we should look at. Over 50 public submissions were received. Half of the submissions received were for deployments or postings that fell outside the period being reviewed, including service in South East Asia.

Public submissions closed in August 2021.

What deployments did the review consider?

The review was originally dealt with in six tranches (groups):

  • Tranche One — Significant deployments without appropriate coverage.
  • Tranche Two — Deployments without coverage that may meet the required thresholds.
  • Tranche Three — Deployments which have been declined coverage that warrant reconsideration.
  • Tranche Four — Deployments which have coverage but required review of period and/or risk.
  • Tranche Five — Deployments considered and declined since 2009 that did not meet the criteria at the time, but may do under the VSA 14.
  • Tranche Six — Deployments which have been considered and declined since the VSA 14 was introduced that meet the required threshold in a limited way (for example, one mitigated health risk).

A summary of the initial 153 deployments was considered.

In the first tranche, 40 deployments were considered. On advice from Headquarters New Zealand Defence Force (HQ NZDF), 50 deployments were categorised as business as usual (for example, not a deployment according to DFO 3) and were removed from consideration. This left 63 deployments remaining to be considered from the original 153.  

The review changed as it progressed. For example, all deployments within a specific geographical area (like the Former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) were considered together, even if they were initially allocated to a different tranche. Also, all maritime deployments from other tranches were considered together. The only matter considered with this review was the assessment of risk and its applicability under the Act. 

List of all the deployments reviewed

The list contains all of the deployments reviewed and explains the outcome of that review. 

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List of all the deployments reviewed

Country

Deployment

Outcome

Bosnia

United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) 

Covered by new declaration for Former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 

Bosnia

NATO-led Implementation Force (IFOR) 

Covered by new declaration for Former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 

Bosnia

Operation Standard and Operation Ford as part of NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) 

Covered by new declaration for Former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 

Bosnia

Operation Standard and Operation Ford II as part of European Force (EUFOR) Althea 

Covered by new declaration for Former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 

Croatia

United Nations Confidence Restoration Operation (UNCRO)  

Covered by new declaration for Former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 

Croatia

United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja, and Western Sirmium (UNTAES) 

Covered by new declaration for Former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 

Croatia

Operation Preview as part of United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka (UNMOP)  

Covered by new declaration for Former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 

Kosovo

Kosovo Medical Team (KOSMED)

Covered by new declaration for Former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 

Kosovo

Kosovo Force (KFOR)

Covered by new declaration for Former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 

Kosovo

Operation Koster  as part of United Nations Interim Administration in Kosovo (UNMIK)   

Covered by new declaration for Former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 

Macedonia

United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP) 

Covered by new declaration for Former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 

Macedonia

Macedonia Mine Action Centre  

Covered by new declaration for Former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 

Solomon Islands

Operation PURPLE HAZE

Covered by new declaration for Solomon Islands 

Solomon Islands

Operation ZEPHYR 

Covered by new declaration for Solomon Islands 

Solomon Islands

Operation PURPLE HAZE II

Covered by new declaration for Solomon Islands 

Solomon Islands

Operation MINERVA

Covered by new declaration for Solomon Islands 

Solomon Islands

Operation RICOCHET I

Covered by new declaration for Solomon Islands 

Solomon Islands

Operation RICOCHET II

Covered by new declaration for Solomon Islands 

Solomon Islands

Operation TARDIS 

Covered by new declaration for Solomon Islands 

Solomon Islands

Operation RATA

Covered by new declaration for Solomon Islands 

Timor Leste

East Timor

Covered by new declaration for Timor Leste (adding Maritime environment) 

Timor Leste

International Force in East Timor (INTERFET) 

Covered by new declaration for Timor Leste 

Timor Leste

Operation CASTALL 

Covered by new declaration for Timor Leste 

Timor Leste

United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) 

Covered by new declaration for Timor Leste 

Timor Leste

Operation MAAD 

Covered by new declaration for Timor Leste 

Timor Leste

Operation POWER PLAN 

Covered by new declaration for Timor Leste 

Timor Leste

UN Mission of Support for East Timor (UNMISET) 

Covered by new declaration for Timor Leste 

Timor Leste

Task Group PORTAL II

Covered by new declaration for Timor Leste 

Timor Leste

Task Group TOA

Covered by new declaration for Timor Leste 

Timor Leste

Operation KORU

Covered by new declaration for Timor Leste 

Timor Leste

Task Group KAIHANGA

Covered by new declaration for Timor Leste 

Timor Leste

Task Group TOA

Covered by new declaration for Timor Leste 

Timor Leste

Task Group GYRO

Covered by new declaration for Timor Leste 

Timor Leste

Task Group MANU 

Covered by new declaration for Timor Leste 

USSR

RNZE and RNZMP

Covered by new declaration for service at NZ Embassy in Moscow 

Kosovo

Kosovo Aid (KOSAID)

Covered by new declaration for Former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 

Kosovo

Operation Koster as part of UN Interim Administration in Kosovo (UNMIK)   

Covered by new declaration for Former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 

Israel

Operation Farad and/or Operation Scoria

No action taken based on the Military Threat Assessment

Kenya & Somalia 

United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS)

Covered by new declaration for the Federal Republic of Somalia 

Kenya & Somalia 

United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS)

Covered by new declaration for the Federal Republic of Somalia 

Somalia 

 Single NZDF Staff Officer deployment

Covered by new declaration for the Federal Republic of Somalia 

Indian Ocean

Operation ARMILLA Indian Ocean

Covered by a new declaration for Service aboard HMNZS Canterbury or Waikato while under the operational command of Royal Navy Task Group 321.1

Cambodia

United Nations Military Liaison Team (UNMLT)

Covered by new declaration for the Kingdom of Cambodia 

Egypt

Multinational Force and Observers (MFO)

Covered by new declaration for the Sinai Peninsula of the Arab Republic of Egypt

Laos

Operation LAXUS as part of Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Programme (UXOL)  

Covered by new declaration for the Kingdom of Cambodia 

Mozambique

United Nations Operations in Mozambique (ONUMOZ)

Covered by new declaration for Mozambique 

Mozambique

United Nations Mozambique Accelerated Demining Programme (MADP)

Covered by new declaration for Mozambique 

Angola

United Nations Verifications Missions in Angola II (UNAVEM II)

Covered by new declaration for Angola 

Angola

United Nations Verifications Missions in Angola III (UNAVEM III)

Covered by new declaration for Angola 

Angola

United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA) 

Covered by new declaration for Angola 

Angola

The National Institute for the Removal of Obstacles and Explosive Ordnance in Angola (INAROEE)

Covered by new declaration for Angola 

Cambodia

UN Advance Mission in Cambodia (UNAMIC)

Covered by new declaration for the Kingdom of Cambodia 

Cambodia

Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC)  

Covered by new declaration for the Kingdom of Cambodia 

Cambodia

Mine Clearance Training Unit (MCTU) in Cambodia

Covered by new declaration for the Kingdom of Cambodia 

Cambodia

UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC)

Covered by new declaration for the Kingdom of Cambodia 

Iraq

United Nations Special Commission in Iraq (UNSCOM) 

Covered by new declaration for the Republic of Iraq 

Sierra Leone

United Nations Observers’ Mission in Sierra Leone  (UNOMSIL) 

Covered by new declaration for the Republic of Sierra Leone 

Sierra Leone

United Nations Assistance Mission in Sierra Leone  (UNAMSIL)  

Covered by new declaration for the Republic of Sierra Leone 

Somalia

The United Nations Operations in Somalia I (UNOSOM I)

Covered by new declaration for the Federal Republic of Somalia 

Somalia

The United Nations Operations in Somalia II (UNOSOM II)

Covered by new declaration for the Federal Republic of Somalia 

Somalia

The United Task Force in Somalia I (UNITAF)

Covered by new declaration for the Federal Republic of Somalia 

Bougainville

Operation BIG TALK

Did not meet the required criteria

Solomon Islands

Operation CORACLE

Covered by new declaration for Solomon Islands 

Gulf Region 

Operation BARBARY 

Review recommendations under consideration 

Gulf Region 

Operation CALICO 

Review recommendations under consideration 

Gulf Region 

Operation CORVUS 

Review recommendations under consideration 

Gulf Region 

Operation CORVUS II

Review recommendations under consideration 

Gulf Region 

Operation BARBARY 

Review recommendations under consideration 

Gulf Region 

Operation BARBARY III 

Review recommendations under consideration 

Gulf Region 

Operation TIKI IV

Review recommendations under consideration 

Gulf Region 

Operation TIKI VII 

Review recommendations under consideration 

Gulf Region 

Operation TIKI VIII 

Review recommendations under consideration 

Japan

Operation Japanese Quake

No action taken based on the Military Threat Assessment

Libya

Exercise Longlook

Personnel did not deploy - deployment did not proceed

Libya

Operation Limit

Personnel did not deploy - deployment did not proceed

Philippines

Operation Typhoon Haiyan 

No action taken based on the Military Threat Assessment

Samoa

Operation Cyclone Evan

No action taken based on the Military Threat Assessment

Arabian/Persian Gulf

Multination Interception Force

Review recommendations under consideration 

Vanuatu

Tropical Cyclone Pam 2014 

No action taken based on the Military Threat Assessment

Samoa

Post tsunami recovery 

No action taken based on the Military Threat Assessment

Indonesia

Operation Sumatra Assist in Phuket and Jakarta

No action taken based on the Military Threat Assessment

Pakistan

United Nations Mine Clearance Training Team  (UNMCTT) 

Covered by new declaration for Pakistan 

Papua New Guinea

RNZAF crew - Tsunami in Papua New Guinea

No action taken based on the Military Threat Assessment

Bougainville

South Pacific Peacekeeping Force 

No change to existing declaration

Bougainville

Truce Monitoring Group  

Covered by new declaration for Bougainville

Bougainville

Peace Monitoring Group  

Covered by new declaration for Bougainville

Gulf Conflict 

US-led Operation Desert Storm  

No change to existing declaration

Iran-Iraq

United Nations Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group (UNIIMOG) 

No change to existing declaration

Kuwait

Coalition Joint Task Force

No action taken based on the Military Threat Assessment

Namibia

United Nations Transition Assistance Group in Namibia

Covered by new declaration for Namibia 

Rwanda

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Rwanda

No action taken based on the Military Threat Assessment

Bahrain 

Operation TAKAPU

No action taken based on the Military Threat Assessment

Bahrain 

Operation HAKU

No action taken based on the Military Threat Assessment

Korea

Operation MONITOR 

No action taken based on the Military Threat Assessment

Kuwait

Operation MOHUA

No action taken based on the Military Threat Assessment

Qatar

Operations TAKAPU, HAKU

No action taken based on the Military Threat Assessment

UAE

Operation TROY 

No change to existing declaration

UAE

Operation TROY II

No change to existing declaration

Cambodia

UN Military Liaison Team Cambodia

Covered by new declaration for the Kingdom of Cambodia 

Jordan

 

Did not meet the required criteria

Fiji

During military coup 

No action taken based on the Military Threat Assessment

North Atlantic

Various including hand over sailing of new acquisition 

Limited information available and not progressed

Pre-Gulf War 

RNZAF B727 displaced persons evacuation 

No action taken based on the Military Threat Assessment

Papua New Guinea

Multiple occurrences (CALYPSO)

Removed from review as reclassified as business as usual 

Philippines

Operation Typhoon Haiyan 

No action taken based on the Military Threat Assessment

Samoa

Operation Cyclone Evan

No action taken based on the Military Threat Assessment

Samoa

Calypso/Norpat multiple occurrences

Removed from review as reclassified as business as usual 

Solomon Islands

Calypso/Op Render Safe multiple occurrences

Removed from review as reclassified as business as usual unless when covered under period of new declaration for Solomon Islands

Vanuatu

Calypso/Norpat

Removed from review as reclassified as business as usual 

List of the changes made as a result of the review

This list contains all of the deployments where a change was made as a result of the review. 

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List of the changes made as a result of the review

Country

Year

Outcome

Iraq(external link)(external link) 2017 Extension based on new mandate
Moscow(external link)(external link) 2018 New declaration
Mali(external link)(external link) 2018 New declaration
Timor-Leste(external link)(external link) 2019 Reviewed, consolidated, and extended
Former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia(external link)(external link) 2019 Reviewed, consolidated, and extended 
Solomon Islands(external link)(external link) 2019 Reviewed, consolidated, and extended
Mali(external link)(external link) 2020 New declaration
Mali(external link)(external link) 2020 2018 closed off
Iraq(external link)(external link) 2020 Reviewed and earlier coverage given also end date added, and consolidated
Angola(external link)(external link) 2020 Reviewed and consolidated
Cambodia(external link)(external link) 2020 Reviewed and consolidated
Somalia(external link)(external link) 2020 Reviewed, consolidated, and extended
Sierra Leone(external link)(external link) 2020 Reviewed and consolidated 
Sinai(external link)(external link) 2020 Reviewed and extended
Indian Ocean(external link)(external link) 2020 New declaration
Syria(external link)(external link) 2020 Coverage given to whole of Syria and end date added
South Sudan(external link)(external link) 2020 End date added
Lebanon(external link)(external link) 2020 Coverage given to whole of Lebanon and end date added
Laos(external link)(external link) 2020 New declaration
Mozambique(external link)(external link) 2020 New declaration
Namibia(external link)(external link) 2020 New declaration
Afghanistan(external link)(external link) 2021 Reviewed, consolidated, and extended
Pakistan(external link)(external link) 2021 New declaration
Bougainville(external link)(external link) 2022 New declaration

You can send an enquiry if you think your deployment qualifies

The review of deployments is closed.

If you think you were on a deployment or posting that reached the threshold to be considered for a review, you can send an enquiry.

Postal address

Veterans' Affairs
PO Box 5146
Wellington 6011

Email

va.communications@nzdf.mil.nz