New Zealand Legislation: Acts

15 District claims panels

• (1) The Secretary must maintain a sufficient number of war pensions claims panels.

  (1A) Despite subsection (1), the Secretary may not alter the number of claims panels unless the Secretary has consulted with the National Executive Committee of the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association (Incorporated).

  (2) Each claims panel consists of—

  • (a) a person who—

    • (i) is an official or employee of the Department and is appointed from time to time by the Secretary; or

    • (ii) is an official or employee of a department of the public service listed in Schedule 1 of the State Sector Act 1988 and is appointed from time to time by the chief executive of that department after consultation with the Secretary; and

  • (b) a person appointed from time to time by the Secretary on the nomination of the National Executive Committee of the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association (Incorporated).

  (2A) A claims panel may, on or after 1 October 1999, allow a person nominated by a claimant to participate as the claimant’s advocate in the consideration of the claim by the panel, if the members of the panel consider that the person nominated is sufficiently qualified, by reason of his or her training and experience, to participate in the consideration of the claim.

  (2B) A person who is allowed under subsection (2A) to participate as the claimant’s advocate in the consideration of a claim is not a member of the claims panel, and is not part of the panel for the purposes of section 15B(2) to (4).

  (3) There may be paid to the member of the claims panel appointed under subsection (2)(b), out of a Crown Bank Account from money appropriated by Parliament for the purpose, remuneration by way of fees, salary, or allowances, and travelling allowances and expenses, in accordance with the Fees and Travelling Allowances Act 1951 as if the panel were a statutory board within the meaning of that Act; and that Act shall apply accordingly.

  Section 15: substituted, on 1 April 1989, by section 7(1) of the War Pensions Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 148).

  Section 15(1): substituted, on 1 July 1999, by section 8 of the Veterans’ Affairs Act 1999 (1999 No 76).

  Section 15(1A): inserted, on 1 July 1999, by section 8 of the Veterans’ Affairs Act 1999 (1999 No 76).

  Section 15(2): substituted, on 1 July 1999, by section 8 of the Veterans’ Affairs Act 1999 (1999 No 76).

  Section 15(2A): inserted, on 1 July 1999, by section 8 of the Veterans’ Affairs Act 1999 (1999 No 76).

  Section 15(2B): inserted, on 1 July 1999, by section 8 of the Veterans’ Affairs Act 1999 (1999 No 76).

  Section 15(3): amended, on 25 January 2005, pursuant to section 83(7) of the Public Finance Act 1989 (1989 No 44).