The Paterson Report
The Paterson review made 64 recommendations on how to improve support for veterans.
About the report
Professor Ron Paterson was appointed in June 2017 to lead a review of the operation of the Veterans’ Support Act 2014.
View the Veterans' Support Act 2014 in full on the New Zealand legislation website(external link)
The purpose of the review was to look at whether the Act was operating as intended, and whether it meets its purpose.
Professor Paterson consulted widely with veterans around New Zealand during his review to understand how their service for this country affected their lives, and how the Act was working for them.
He delivered his report to the Chief of Defence Force in March 2018. It made 64 recommendations.
Final update: October 2024
Since the report was delivered, Veterans' Affairs has committed to a work programme to examine whether and how the recommendations could be implemented. That programme has now concluded.
Many changes have been made as a result. Some of the recommendations have been actioned through legislation, some through policy changes, and in some cases, the desired result is being achieved through different means.
It has not been possible to action every recommendation. Some would require a substantial and fundamental review of the principles that underlie veteran legislation in New Zealand, and this will need to be dealt with when a full review of the Act is undertaken again. Other recommendations would require significant changes in the roles and responsibilities of other agencies – such as the Ministry of Social Development, the ACC, and various public health agencies – and could not be carried out in isolation.
In the six years after the Paterson Report was completed, the veteran landscape has changed. There have been a number of developments, in particular, the launch of the Te Arataki strategy in 2022. This provided new approaches not considered during the Paterson review to achieve improved outcomes for veterans and their families.
Veterans' Affairs will continue to focus resources on supporting veterans’ health and wellbeing, including through work in partnership with other agencies and organisations.