It is deeply frustrating to read reports indicating that serving and former New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel continue to face systemic financial challenges that could and should be mitigated by the NZDF, including breaks through the tax system. This ongoing neglect raises serious questions about the organisation’s commitment to equity, fairness, and the well-being of its members. (nzherald.co.nzhttps://ebx.sh/1sKbws)

NZDF personnel make sacrifices few of us can fully comprehend. They endure long separations from family, operate in dangerous environments, and shoulder responsibilities that most civilians never encounter. These sacrifices deserve recognition—not just in rhetoric but through meaningful support mechanisms. Yet, time and again, administrative oversights and policy failures leave service members disadvantaged, undermining morale and trust in the very institutions meant to support them.

What is most troubling is that these issues are not new. Some veterans will remember the NZDF’s failure to apply existing legislation during the 1992–94 deployment to Somalia—a glaring example of neglect that has left a bitter legacy.

At the time, Section 61(16) of the Income Tax Act 1976 stipulated that income earned in an active service area outside New Zealand would be tax-free.

Somalia, then engulfed in chaos and widely recognised as an active war zone by other nations, should have qualified. Yet, the NZDF failed to declare it an active service area, instead treating the deployment as a routine training exercise. This decision blatantly disregarded the harsh realities faced by New Zealand troops, who were operating within kilometres of deadly conflict, including the infamous Battle of Mogadishu.

Rather than advocating for its personnel by retroactively declaring Somalia an active-duty area, the NZDF shut down discussions. This inaction ensured deployed personnel could not benefit from tax-free status, and worse still, the relevant legislation was repealed in 1995. For those who served, this was not just a missed opportunity—it was a betrayal that set a worrying precedent.

Fast forward 30 years, and the same disconnect between the NZDF and its duty of care persists. Reports of systemic financial challenges today reflect a broader failure to learn from the past. Administrative indifference and a lack of proactive support leave many service members feeling undervalued and unsupported.

Addressing these issues is not just about fairness; it is about honouring the commitments made to those who serve. Financial policies and administrative processes must be reformed to ensure service personnel are never disadvantaged due to systemic oversight. Lessons from Somalia and other historical failures must guide us forward, not continue to haunt us as reminders of unkept promises.

The NZDF and the government must take urgent action. This means reviewing policies that affect personnel financial well-being, introducing safeguards to prevent future oversights, and—above all—placing the well-being of service members at the heart of decision-making. Without these steps, the gap between the sacrifices made by NZDF personnel and the recognition they receive will only grow wider.

For an organisation tasked with defending the nation, it is high time the NZDF defended its own.