Tribute 08
May I begin by greeting everyone in the languages of the realm of New Zealand, in English, Maori, Cook Island Maori, Niuean, Tokelauan and New Zealand Sign Language.
Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and as it is the afternoon (Sign).
May I specifically greet you: Chief of Defence Force, Lt Gen Jerry Mateparae; Ex-Viet Nam Veterans' Association President Terry Culley; Royal New Zealand Returned & Services Association President Robin Klitscher; Hon Rick Barker, Minister of Veterans' Affairs; Dr Wayne Mapp, MP Representing the Leader of the Opposition; Lt General (Rtd) Don McIver, Patron of Tribute 08; Hon Alan Griffin, Minister of Veterans' Affairs for Australia; Your Excellency, William McCormick, Ambassador for the United States of America to New Zealand; Your Excellency John Dauth, High Commissioner for Australia to New Zealand; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen.
Today we join together to commemorate those New Zealanders who served during the Viet Nam War and to also remember the sacrifices of their families.
The Viet Nam War cast a shadow over the second half of the 20th Century.
In the time between the fall of Dien Bien Phu in May 1954 and until the fall of Saigon in April 1975, the country that we now know as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam was the stage of massive conflict, involving shooting, bombing and mining with attendant loss of life - both military and civilian and on all sides.
New Zealand's contribution to this conflict was relatively small in comparison to that of other countries. New Zealanders were not conscripted and all those who served in Viet Nam, as enlisted military personnel, were volunteers. At the height of New Zealand's involvement in 1968, some 540 military personnel were deployed.
Even so, nearly 4,000 New Zealanders served in Viet Nam from 1963 until the last were withdrawn in 1973. The war claimed the lives of 37 New Zealanders, and 187 were wounded.
The Viet Nam War divided New Zealand in a way that no previous military conflict had done. At its heart, this debate reflected differing views about New Zealand's identity as a sovereign nation, our national security, about our international relationships with other countries, and our role in world affairs.
The war itself came at a time of a perceived threat to our well being and as a good international citizen; New Zealand was called upon to respond.
It was also the first modern war—played out nightly on our television. The images were immediate, and were cause for deep and immediate reflection. What at first seemed right, became questionable.
Many New Zealanders came to regard participation as unacceptable. Public opinion began to judge those who served in the war and Viet Nam veterans returned to a country which regarded their participation in what had occurred as a matter of debate and dissension. This contrasted with the reception for those who had served in the First and Second World Wars who had been feted as heroes.
I can bring to mind the opinions of some, who at the time felt that the day of our country's most sacred memorial, Anzac Day, should not be "tarnished" as it was sometimes put, with the remembrance of the War in Viet Nam.
Returning from an unpopular war, the Viet Nam veterans were thus greeted with, at best, official and public indifference, and at worst, hostility.
For the Viet Nam veterans and their families, the war did not just end when the last service personnel returned in 1973.
Many have continued to suffer from a host of psychological and physical health problems, which have blighted their lives and those of their families.
Earlier in my career as a lawyer, I was involved in preliminary legal work for Vietnam Veterans with an Agent Orange class action suit that came before the courts in the United States in the early 1980s.
From that experience, and also as Patron of the RNZRSA, I am well aware of the ongoing suffering that many veterans and their families have endured.
There has been much debate on the merits of our nations involvement in the Viet Nam War.
However, there should be no question that those who served in Viet Nam were doing their duty and that they should be honoured for their service.
As Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force, I wish to acknowledge the service of New Zealand's Viet Nam veterans. You served your country with professionalism, dignity and honour in what was a most demanding theatre of war.
I also want to take this time to acknowledge the families of those who served. Wars and conflicts are always hard on the loved ones left behind and the Viet Nam War was no exception.
I am also aware that this recognition has been a long time coming. In December 2006, the Crown, represented by the Minister of Defence, Hon Phil Goff, and the Minister of Veterans Affairs, Hon Rick Barker, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ex-Viet Nam Services Association and the RNZRSA.
There are many aspects to this complex agreement. But at its heart is a desire to begin a process of healing and reconciliation.
Most importantly, the memorandum includes a formal commitment from the Crown to acknowledge the service of New Zealand's Viet Nam veterans and to deliver an apology to them and their families.
That apology was made by the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Helen Clark, in a Ministerial statement in Parliament on Wednesday.
As a part of that agreement, the New Zealand Defence Force yesterday hosted a formal welcome back to New Zealand in which, among other things, it acknowledged the service of all Viet Nam veterans.
Tribute 08 is a time to honour and acknowledge those who served in Viet Nam. Her Majesty The Queen of New Zealand has approved a distinctly New Zealand medal for Viet Nam service, and it will be with pride that I will soon award the new New Zealand General Service Medal and clasp to a group of veterans and widows.
Tribute 08 then is also a time when we can begin the process of healing, of being reunited. There is an apposite Maori proverb which makes this point well. It goes: Ka piti hono, hei ttai hono, which translates as saying: Broken pieces are joined together and companies of men are reunited.
That the pieces are here today and that the healing has now begun, makes our country a more honourable and stronger place.
And on that note, I will I close in New Zealand's first language, Maori, offering greetings and wishing you all good health and fortitude in your endeavours.
No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tena koutou katoa.