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Mururoa Nuclear Veterans Group Inc
A place for our Vets & their Families
Not a Financial Member? Contact treasurer@mururoaveterans73.nz
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LATEST NEWS August 2024
GENETIC COUNSELLING
&
TESTING
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Last Update October 2024
HMNZS Otago, HMNZS Canterbury & HMAS Supply - Mururoa Atoll 1973
In 2023 New Zealand's Independent Veteran's Health Advisory Panel commissioned a literature review on the health risks associated with nuclear exposure.
Families of those who could have been exposed to radiation may be anxious about what such exposure might mean. While the review confirmed the impact of radiation on a number of cancers it noted that there is no current significant and reliable evidence of intergenerational effects from paternal exposure. There will, however, be future literature reviews to ensure New Zealand is kept up-to-date with information about this.
Some children of nuclear veterans have previously been supported by Veterans" Affairs to access genetic counselling to help them understand the risks of their parents' possible exposure. Since March 2024, this entitlement has been extended, and now the biological children of all of New Zealand's nuclear veterans are able to apply for genetic counselling that will be funded by Veterans' Affairs.
Who is eligible?
The biological children of New Zealand veterans who served in:
What are you eligible for?
As a child of a nuclear veteran, you're eligible for genetic counselling funded by Veterans" Affairs.
What is genetic counselling?
Genetic counselling is offered by a specialist genetic counsellor who is trained to help people understand the risks and implications of a genetic disorder in a family.
It helps you to make informed choices about whether genetic testing could be helpful, what testing could involve, how the results and their implications can be interpreted, and the management of potential genetic risks. Whether counselling leads to genetic testing or not is something we encourage you to discuss with the counsellor.
The cost of genetic testing alone will not be covered by Veterans' Affairs - but Veterans' Affairs will cover this cost if testing is recommended as a result of counselling.
How can you arrange to get genetic counselling?
Most genetic counselling happens through Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand. There are some private providers, but they are generally limited to the major centres. Veterans' Affairs can help you and your GP access services, first through Te Whatu Ora, or through a private provider if you can't access it through the public system.
As a first step, you will need to prove you are eligible to have the counselling funded, by providing Veterans' Affairs with proof that you are related to a veteran from a nuclear deployment.
There is a form available on the Veterans' Affairs website (veteransaffairs.mil.nz) which you can fill out and submit to Veterans' Affairs, and this will begin the process for you. (A link is also attached below)
What if you live overseas?
You can still access this counselling.
Please contact Veterans' Affairs +64-4-495 2070 and we will talk you through the process.
What about nuclear veterans
themselves?
Genetic counselling and, if necessary, genetic testing, may be funded for eligible nuclear veterans as part of an overall treatment package for a service-related condition. This would be arranged through their case managers.
The above text is a document from Veterans' Affairs 2024
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Jayforce in Japan after the Second World War
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Operation Grapple (observing British nuclear tests in the Pacific in the 1950s)
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Mururoa (where New Zealand frigates observed French nuclear tests in 1973
Are you a child of a nuclear veteran
The following links are to: -
further support information
and the Application Form
Further support information, click on the link below:
For an APPLICATION FORM, click on the link below:
Our Story:
In June 1973 a Labour Government decided to send frigates to protest against testing of Atmospheric Nuclear Devices in the Pacific.
HMNZS Otago & HMNZS Canterbury along with HMAS Supply in a support role, were tasked with this mission to Mururoa Atoll.
This mission, considered a success by Politicians is clouded now by the ill health of Veterans and their families.
The New Zealand Government has a duty of care to support us as Veterans who have on going health issues attributable to our service in their deployment to Mururoa.
If you would like to donate to our Veterans please click to email our Treasurer
Can you help us find the crew of HMNZS Otago & HMNZS Canterbury?
To have the New Zealand Government recognise & support the health issues we face along with our Children & Grandchildren.
MNVG Inc. Official Website
The Mururoa Nuclear Veterans Group wishes to advise all former shipmates and crew of HMNZS Otago and HMNZS Canterbury who served during the Mururoa Protest of 1973 that this will be the NEW OFFICIAL PAGE for Mururoa Nuclear Veterans Group Inc.
We would also like to advise that previous Group President, Wayne O’Donnell resigned his post in 2016 and has subsequently left the group along with previous Secretary Loretta Smith - No medical information or contact details should be passed onto them.