Pacific nuclear test veterans are encouraged their quest to gain a long-awaited apology for being exposed to radiation appears to have ministerial support.
Kiwi sailors on the decks of the HMNZS Rotoiti and HMNZS Pukaki witnessed atomic explosions and collected weather data during Operation Grapple, Britain’s Pacific nuclear testing programme of the 1950s.
The New Zealand Nuclear Test Veterans’ Association, which represents the more than 500 Kiwi sailors involved, is pushing for a meeting with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
The association wants an apology for the sailors, and help for medical problems in their children and grandchildren.
To lay the groundwork for the prime ministerial audience the association’s chairman, Tere Tahi, of Bulls, has met with Veterans’ Affairs Minister Meka Whaitiri.
Tahi said last week’s audience with the minister, her secretary and head of Veterans’ Affairs Bernadine Mackenzie went well, a feeling he hadn’t had from meetings with previous ministers.
“They were mighty to talk to. The minister was really good and she said that she’ll do what she can for the veterans.”
The trio listened to arguments about how what the navy veterans went through had affected their children and grandchildren. Tahi and his son James represented the association.
At present the veterans can get help for medical problems, but their offspring cannot.
Tahi said Whaitiri was asked if she could approach Ardern about a meeting, and she said she would try.
“We put our case across to her [Whaitiri], which is what we wanted to do. She was very good.
“We want recognition. We want an apology.”
The association's plan was to argue its case to Ardern on humanitarian grounds, telling the stories of its members.
It's thought about 60 of the Kiwi sailors are still alive.
The association’s previous chairman, Roy Sefton, who died early this year, led the charge on securing invalids’ pensions for veterans and then getting help for their families.
Studies have shown the sailors suffered severe genetic damage that can lead to inter-generational problems, but there has been no recognition or apology from official channels.
Whaitiri’s office was approached for comment.
The association was formed in the 1990s. At a reunion about that time it became clear many veterans were affected by cancer and other health problems.
