A Tauranga World War II veteran who spent two years with Bomber Command fighting in the skies over Europe has accused the RSA of becoming politicised by the flag debate.
Lindsay Budge, 95, said the New Zealand RSA had always been a non-political organisation and it had no right to enter the current political debate on whether to change the country's flag. This week he put his views to the RSA's national president BJ Clark.
Mr Budge said he had never been surveyed on his views and did not expect to be surveyed.
Mr Budge, the past-president and life member of the Pukekohe RSA said it was a myth that servicemen fought and died fighting for the current flag. "We fought to survive and retain our freedom."
He said it was a disgrace that the New Zealand RSA had spent $20,000 on the flag campaign. "The flag debate is nothing new. It has been on the table for decades, with political parties of all persuasions over the years calling for change."