Medals give recognition to nuclear test veterans

Nuclear test veterans will be among the first to be eligible for a new medal announced yesterday.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said the Queen had agreed to institute the New Zealand Special Service Medal to recognise service in difficult, adverse, extreme or hazardous circumstances.

Such service often involved risk similar to operational service but did not come under that criteria.

The medal initially will be awarded to personnel and civilians who formed part of an official New Zealand presence at an atmospheric nuclear test.

This includes British nuclear tests in the Pacific and Australia from 1956 to 58, American tests in 1957-58 and French testing at Mururoa Atoll in 1973. About 1100 people will qualify for the award.

"The award of this medal to nuclear test veterans will help resolve a long-held medallic grievance, by providing them with tangible recognition of their service to New Zealand," Helen Clark said.

The medal will be available to families of veterans who had since died.

Veteran Affairs Minister Mark Burton said up to 50,000 people could be eligible for the New Zealand Operational Service Medal, instituted last year, and other awards.

The medal was brought in to recognise New Zealanders who served in campaigns and operations over the past 57 years.

Some nuclear test veterans are seeking compensation for ill-health they say they suffered after radiation exposure during the British nuclear tests at Christmas and Malden Islands in the 1957-58 programme, Operation Grapple.

New Zealand Navy personnel serving on the Rotoiti and Pukaki were at the Operation Grapple tests. The crews, totalling 551 men, were told to stand on decks for nine nuclear blasts.

Pukaki also sailed through the radioactive area within hours of at least two blasts.

The veterans claim their exposure has led to cancer and hereditary diseases among them and their families.

The group represents 220 known survivors of the servicemen used in the programme, about 50 veterans' widows, 735 children of veterans and 2000 relatives.

- NZPA