As Anzac Day looms, the country remembers those who fought in World War I, but what about the younger veterans?
Leader of new veterans groups Aaron Wood survived in East Timor, Somalia and Afghanistan. He told The Nation this morning New Zealand treats young veterans with "apathy and indifference, for the most part".
He says what this comes down to is lack of understanding and exposure to what they have experienced and achieved.
"The focus, unfortunately, for too many years, has been solely on WWI, WWII and up to Vietnam.
"Post-1974, there's been very little effort put into explaining what New Zealand does overseas as a defence force and what its soldiers, sailors and airmen achieve."
Mr Wood says he thinks some of the older soldiers perceive the younger ones as "peacekeepers", and compares it to boarding school mentality.
"We've heard anecdotally about a number of soldiers, sailors and airmen who've turned up to RSAs, even wearing their medals, and been told by older veterans or older members not really sure if they're veterans, that they don't deserve to be wearing those medals."
He says this is an issue that has always been around, and has a very real impact.
"Soldiers, sailors and airmen don't feel worthy of being called a veteran or calling themselves a veteran, and they also don't feel worthy of seeking help and seeking assistance and support for whatever issues they might be suffering."
But he says Veterans' Affairs New Zealand is trying hard to support the welfare of veterans, but action differs between RSA to RSA throughout the country.
"Some RSAs are very, very good and proactive -- Papanui RSA, Timbleton, Blenheim. Whakatane is excellent in engaging with younger veterans -- Whanganui, Papakura.
"But there's a number that just aren't interested with engaging with the veterans. They're not really trying, and I've seen that first-hand."
As well as a national "poppy fund", each individual RSA there are 181 throughout the country -- runs its own poppy fund, and how they dispense the money is entirely up to them.
"I've had some discussions with a number of RSAs in Auckland, for instance, who are very good at dispensing their poppy fund.
"They believe it's for the welfare of veterans and other members of the RSA. And I've heard anecdotally some other RSA are less interested in doing so."
Newshub.
