Inquiry into the exposure of New Zealand defence personnel to

1,95
MB Agent Orange and other defoliant chemicals during the Vietnam

297
stron War and any health effects of that exposure, and transcripts of

evidence

2977
ID Department of Defence, New Zealand

2004
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Contents

Summary of recommendations 5

1 Introduction 6

Terms of reference 6

Conduct of the inquiry 7

Terminology used in this report 9

2 The Vietnam War and herbicide use 10

New Zealand’s role in Vietnam 10

Implications of herbicide use for military purposes during the Vietnam War 12

3 Evidence of exposure to defoliant chemicals during Vietnam service 14

Evidence of veterans 14

New Zealand Defence Force 17

Committee conclusion 20

4 Evaluation of the Reeves report and the McLeod report 21

The Reeves report 21

The McLeod report 23

5 International research on exposure to defoliant chemicals in Vietnam 29

Difficulties in research 29

Research conducted on Australian veterans 29

Other overseas research 32

6 Services for New Zealand Vietnam veterans 34

New Zealand health system 34

New Zealand war pension system 35

Case management system 35

Australian services for veterans 36

Conclusion 40

Appendices

A Committee procedure 41

B Useful resources for Vietnam veterans 42

C List of submitters 43

D Natural justice response 44

E Corrected transcript of evidence 25 November 2003 51

F Corrected transcript of evidence 26 November 2003 142

G Corrected transcript of evidence 3 December 2003 219

H Corrected transcript of evidence 10 December 2003 247

I Corrected transcript of evidence 3 March 2004 257

J Corrected transcript of evidence 24 March 2004 268

K Corrected transcript of evidence 9 June 2004 281

L Corrected transcript of evidence 16 June 2004 290

Maps

1 South Vietnam 1965–1972: area of operation 11

2 Herbicide sprayed in Phuoc Tuy Province 10 November 1965 to 30 June 1968 18

Photographs

1 Operation Ingham 18 November 1966 to 3 December 1966—Setting up command post after

deployment 15

2 Operation Ingham 18 November 1966 to 3 December 1966—Another view 15