NZDF Welfare Advocacy
NZDF personnel and their whanau are facing the biggest battle on the home front when it comes to welfare, housing and pay. After publishing a letter I wrote to the Minister, the responses and support made it clear that something more needed to be done; so here it is.
Have your say on the welfare and conditions provided by NZDF
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One of the best ways to create change is to have your voice heard, so I'm collecting submissions for all serving & former NZDF personnel, whanau and civilians associated with the NZDF to have their say on the conditions, housing, pay and welfare provided by the NZDF.
Please provide your stories here:
Meeting with Minister Penk
On June 10th I met with Associate Minister of Defence and Minister for Veteran Affairs Chris Penk to share just some of the stories and experiences NZDF personnel and whanau are experiencing around the poor state of housing, welfare, lack of whānau support, financial struggles and more.
Thanks to all those who reached out and shared their stories with me.
The Minister and I had a robust, frank and honest conversation - I didn’t hold back and told him how we truly feel, everything was on the table .
We managed to canvas a lot in a very short time including support moving forward, what can be done and steps we can take to prevent the continuous decline of housing, pay and welfare.
While he couldn’t offer any “quick fixes” or immediate promises, he assured me he’s restarting conversations about the Miltary Kawenata/commitment.
We also talked about the likelihood of bringing NZDF salaries into the remit of the Independent Remuneration Authority (unlikely) and the possibility of setting up an NZDF welfare association (much like Australia has).
And from our whānau perspective things that would help would be, gathering stories and getting in front of Select Committee with a petition.
Please submit your stories in the submission form above and share your experiences with housing, welfare, lack of support and financial struggles to compile in a report and send to the Government, NZDF and other officials.
The Minister's response
Click the PDF to view the full response from Minister of Defence Judith Collins
Public letter to the Minister
On the 17th of May I sent and published a letter to the Minister of Defence Judith Collins after years of frustration and hardship. I was at my wits end and wanted to give the Government an insight into the incredible hardship of being an NZDF family and our daily reality as we battle with poor housing, pay and conditions and suffer the full impact of the retention problems.
Read the full letter here on Newsroom.
Key Facts
Salary and wages
Current salaries for NZDF personnel are inadequate, with many earning significantly less than similar roles in the wider civilian market. Defence salaries are at least 5% below their civilian equivalent; some as high as 10%. At their highest, there was a 26% disparity with NZDF salaries and the civilian market.
The NZDF has also made several reductions to it’s conditions of service, and allowances over the last 15 years, in response to budget constraints and changing policy priorities which have negative consequences for members and whanau.
Housing
Most personnel and their families live and work in substandard conditions, including damp, cold, and mouldy homes and barracks exposed to asbestos and lead. These poor living conditions result in significant health issues for both adults and children, such as eczema, asthma, and respiratory infections.
The Defence Estate is $400million behind in maintenance and despite claims they all meet the requirements of the Residential Tenancies (Health Homes Standards) Regulations 2019, many whanau still refute that claim.
Welfare
The military is distinguished from other government agencies by routinely compelling its Regular Force personnel to relocate to different locations, separated from their families, and undertake operations with risk of injury or death.
The physical and mental well-being of our service members and their families is paramount. Currently, there is insufficient access to adequate childcare, mental health care, family support programs and financial support and comprehensive support services.
These are essential for the overall well-being and effectiveness of NZDF personnel and their whanau, many who are left home alone for long periods of time while their partners serve, and are posted to isolated places with little to no civilian employment or opportunities.
Retention
In the 20 months to 28 February 2023, the NZDF lost 30 percent of its full-time uniformed and trained personnel.
Current attrition levels mean that highly trained people leave the NZDF before replacements can be trained, putting strain on those serving, leading to burnout and creating conditions for falling levels of operational effectiveness.
Poor salaries, housing conditions and welfare are a major factor affecting the attraction and retention of personnel with high levels of essential skills,
placing sustained operational readiness in jeopardy.