Former National Cabinet Minister Hekia Parata (L) and her late husband and former senior public servant, Tā Wira Gardiner. Photo: RNZ
Former National Cabinet Minister Hekia Parata has condemned Veterans' Affairs for its treatment of her late husband, Tā Wira Gardiner. In 2021, Tā Wira claimed his glioblastoma brain tumour was a defence service-related condition due to his exposure to the toxic chemical Agent Orange in Vietnam, where he served as a Platoon Commander in 1970.
Veterans Affairs - a unit of the Defence Force charged with providing support to those who have served in the Armed Forces - rejected the claim; and its decision was twice overturned by an appeal body, and then twice by the High Court, over four years. Tā Wira, who held some of the most senior roles in the public service, died in 2022. The most recent High Court ruling, issued in August ,found Veterans Affairs appeared to be prioritizing cost over care.
Hekia Parata says her whanau has spent years fighting the very agency that is supposed to be supporting service men and women. Kathryn also speaks with veterans' lobby group No Duff co-founder Aaron Wood.
