Vietnam troops sprayed says report

By PETER WILSON

An Australian Army report indicating New Zealand troops were exposed to dangerous defoliants during the Vietnam War has been given to Parliament's health committee.

The committee is investigating claims that New Zealand veterans and their children suffered a range of health problems blamed on the defoliant Agent Orange and other herbicides.

Defence Minister Mark Burton said yesterday he had given the Australian report, and other documents, to committee chairwoman Steve Chadwick.

"The documents detail a 1967 incident in which it appears New Zealand troops were directly exposed to aerial spraying," he said in a statement.

"They also make reference to the use of herbicides by New Zealand personnel in routine perimeter clearance."

The Australian Army report is dated May 1982 and was tabled in the Australian Parliament. It says Australian troops were exposed to aerial and ground-based herbicide sprays and makes a specific reference to an Anzac company of combined forces being "crop dusted" on September 15, 1967.

It also notes that units were assured the spraying was harmless.

"Indeed, from time to time it was stated as policy ... that troops could be safely sprayed," it says.

Mr Burton released a New Zealand defence statement issued in response to the report at the time it was tabled in the Australian Parliament.

The statement said although the report detailed the September 15 incident "no evidence could be found in New Zealand records which would either confirm or contradict the assertion that some of our troops were exposed to aerial spraying by herbicides on that occasion".

Mr Burton said in his statement some of the New Zealand veterans had suggested there were incidents of direct spraying which were not reported because they were not considered significant at the time.

"The New Zealand Defence Force will continue to search its archives thoroughly for documentation of any direct exposure, and any further evidence will be made available," he said.

Mr Burton confirmed last month that millions of litres of defoliant were sprayed on Phuoc Tuy province between 1965 and 1971.

Within those dates, New Zealand units served in the area and in April a retired officer produced a map which showed chemical defoliation occurred in Phuoc Tuy.

There is strong support in Parliament for the inquiry.

Its terms of reference include assessing the health services available to veterans, and whether those services are sufficient.

- NZPA