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December 14th, 2004

"New Zealand government apologizes to Vietnam veterans for Agent Orange"

After following a report from Parliament''s health select committee released in October, New Zealand''s government has apologized to Vietnam veterans for their exposure to Agent Orange and other defoliants from more than 30 years ago.

The October report had concluded “beyond doubt” that New Zealand defense personnel were exposed to Agent Orange and other herbicides.

Successive governments have denied for years the use of the herbicide spray caused any health problems for Vietnam veterans. The herbicide contained the most deadly and hazardous dioxin tetrachlorodibenzoparadioxin, or TCDD.

The Veterans Affairs Minister George Hawkins made the apology in the government''s response to the health select committee''s Agent Orange inquiry. The committee had called only for acceptance that Agent Orange exposure had occurred, not for an apology.

Vietnam veterans said the government''s response to the Agent Orange report is narrow.