National attacks omission of WW2 heroine from Honours List

Nancy Wake in 1943.

The National Party has attacked the Government for its failure to recognise the actions of New Zealand's "greatest living war heroine".

Veterans affairs spokeswoman Judith Collins said Nancy Wake's absence from the Queen's Birthday Honours List was a disgrace.

The Government had missed a golden opportunity to show its commitment to veterans in the Year of the Veteran, Mrs Collins said.

In April the Returned Services Association announced that the New Zealand-born World War II heroine had been given the organisation's highest honour.

She was the first woman to be awarded the RSA Badge in Gold, and life membership.

Ms Wake, 94, and living in a London rest home, fought with the French Resistance and was dubbed the "White Mouse" by the Gestapo because they could not catch her.

Her outstanding courage, bravery and leadership in World War II earned her recognition in Britain, France, Australia and the United States, Mrs Collins said.

"So far, requests to have Nancy Wake honoured [by New Zealand] have fallen on deaf ears."

Mrs Collins this year released a letter from Wigram MP Jim Anderton to the Rev Harvey Dalton of Thames, who had asked him to support the awarding of a New Zealand honour for Ms Wake.

"My information is that Nancy Wake left these shores for Australia as a child of two in 1916 and, as far as I know, has not lived here at any time since.

"Certainly there is no question of her heroism during the Second World War, and this has been recognised with numerous decorations," Mr Anderton said in the letter.

"However, she did not serve with or alongside New Zealand forces at any time during the war, which would usually be the basis of specific recognition of her war service by this country."

Mr Anderton is one of 12 senior MPs who form the Honours Secretariat, which is chaired by Prime Minister Helen Clark.

- NZPA