Veterans' Support Amendment Regulations 2018

2018/28

Coat of Arms of New Zealand

Veterans’ Support Amendment Regulations 2018

Patsy Reddy, Governor-General

Order in Council

At Wellington this 26th day of February 2018

Present:
The Right Hon Jacinda Ardern presiding in Council

These regulations are made under section 265 of the Veterans’ Support Act 2014 (for the purposes of section 170 and clause 2 of Schedule 1 of that Act and sections 29A and 96 of the War Pensions Act 1954) on the advice and with the consent of the Executive Council.

Regulations

1 Title

These regulations are the Veterans’ Support Amendment Regulations 2018.

2 Commencement

(1)

These regulations come into force on 1 April 2018.

(2)

Subclause (1) applies with the exception that regulation 4(6) to (10) comes into force immediately after regulation 4(1) to (5) comes into force.

3 Principal regulations

These regulations amend the Veterans’ Support Regulations 2014 (the principal regulations).

4 Regulation 42 amended (Rates of veteran’s pension)
Mandatory adjustment of rates of veteran’s pension under section 170 of Veterans’ Support Act 2014

(1)

In regulation 42(2), replace “$450.10” with “$456.45”.

(2)

In regulation 42(3), replace “$413.60” with “$419.55”.

(3)

In regulation 42(4), replace “$340.80” with “$345.75”.

(4)

In regulation 42(5), replace “$645.56” with “$655.06”.

(5)

In regulation 42(6), replace “$681.60” with “$691.50”.

Discretionary increase of rates of veteran’s pension

(6)

In regulation 42(2), replace “$456.45” with “$463.04”.

(7)

In regulation 42(3), replace “$419.55” with “$425.55”.

(8)

In regulation 42(4), replace “$345.75” with “$350.76”.

(9)

In regulation 42(5), replace “$655.06” with “$664.68”.

(10)

In regulation 42(6), replace “$691.50” with “$701.52”.

5 Regulation 74 amended (Allowance payable under Part 1 of Schedule 1 of Act)

In regulation 74, replace “$31.64” with “$32.07”.

Michael Webster,
Clerk of the Executive Council.

Explanatory note

This note is not part of the regulations, but is intended to indicate their general effect.

These regulations, which come into force on 1 April 2018, amend the Veterans’ Support Regulations 2014 (the principal regulations).

Regulation 42 of the principal regulations prescribes the rates of veteran’s pension payable under Part 6 of the Veterans’ Support Act 2014 (the Act).

Section 170 of the Act provides for the rates of veteran’s pension to be reviewed before 1 April every year and, if the review concludes that any of the rates require an increase under that section, to be increased as at 1 April. Regulation 4(1) to (5) amends regulation 42 of the principal regulations to adjust the rates of veteran’s pension payable in accordance with section 170 of the Act.

Regulation 4(6) to (10) amends regulation 42 of the principal regulations to make a discretionary increase to the rates of veteran’s pension in order to implement the Government’s commitment to ensure that the net married couple rate of New Zealand superannuation and the relationship rate of the veteran’s pension are set at a minimum of 66% of the net average wage. (The rates that are amended are the gross rates, but the increase has been calculated in relation to the net rate in each case. Other rates of veteran’s pension are increased consequentially in order to maintain the proportional relationship of rates.)

Regulation 5 relates to an entitlement under the War Pensions Act 1954 that has continued to be paid under Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Veterans’ Support Act 2014. The amount of the entitlement, payable to recipients of certain awards relating to gallantry, is adjusted. The adjustment increases the amount of the entitlement by 1.36%, which reflects the increase in the New Zealand Consumers Price Index (All Groups), excluding cigarettes and other tobacco products, between the December 2016 quarter and the December 2017 quarter.

Issued under the authority of the Legislation Act 2012.

Date of notification in Gazette: 1 March 2018.

These regulations are administered by the New Zealand Defence Force.