The French and New Zealand organisations representing veterans of the armed services have agreed to help one another's members.
RSA president BJ Clark and UNC's NZ representative Graham Yarrall sign a memorandum of understanding between the RSA and its French equivalent, Union Nationale des Combattants. Photo: RNZ / Andrew McRae
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed this week by the Returned and Services Association (RSA) and its French equivalent, Union Nationale des Combattants (UNC).
The ceremony took place in Cambridge.
The memorandum of understanding was signed in the presence of the French chargé d'affaires to this country, Mireille Borne.
The MOU grants assistance to veterans from either country, in either country.
RSA president BJ Clark said it was often difficult to help veterans who live overseas.
''We have representatives in Australia that can provide support, but we didn't have anyone over in France. The opportunity came from the UNC to create a MOU. Any French nationals that are in New Zealand will be able to approach the RSA for support if they so desire, and in reverse, in France New Zealand veterans who are over there will be able to approach the UNC should they need some support as well."
While the relationship between the two organisations had always been strong, it was now firmly cemented, he said.
''New Zealand has a rich history in supporting France in its time of need and I think that being able to support their veterans in this time is also significant.''
The UNC representative in New Zealand, Graham Yarrall, said the MOU was an acknowledgement both organisations had similar goals.
''If we can co-operate to achieve those goals for each other, like New Zealand veterans who may be in France, or French veterans who may be in New Zealand, they can reach out for assistance. Both organisations can conduct events on occasions such as Armistice Day.''
BJ Clark was gifted a kākahu maumahara, a woven cloak, to wear as president of the RSA and to be handed down to future leaders. Photo: RNZ / Andrew McRae
New Zealand's connection to the French town of Le Quesnoy was also recognised at the ceremony with the gifting of commemorative bowls carved by Jimmy Gordon.
New Zealand troops freed the town from its German occupation near the end of the First World War in 1918, by scaling the walls and saving it from destruction.
The RSA needs to show younger veterans that it is still relevant, BJ Clark said. Photo: RNZ / Andrew McRae
A New Zealander who is a veteran of the French Foreign Legion, Phil Taikato, welcomes the stronger bond between the two nations.
''When you have a look at what the New Zealanders did back then, it was actually quite a brave feat for what they did and it's unions like this that keep those memories alive. Reminds us of what our young men that we sent over there did. It was extraordinary.''
Meanwhile, Clark said the organisation was changing the ways it helped veterans as the need for support, particularly for younger veterans, had changed.
''We need to go out and we need to find where they are. We need to show them that the RSA is still relevant. We need to encourage them to link in with us so that we can help them.''
Some needed help with post traumatic stress injury (PTSI), he said.
''The unfortunate thing with that is if they are not supported, if they are struggling with PTSI, then the outcome can be final. We don't want to see that, we don't want to see any of our young veterans taking their own lives because they are struggling. We need to be there to support them.''
Clark said the poppy day appeal was the RSA's one opportunity each year to raise funds to support veterans.
Since 1990, 30,000 new young veterans had been created, he said.
''Serving in places like Afghanistan, Timor, Solomon Islands etc. Those veterans may not need us now, but they will need us in the future and we need to be there for them.''
He was also gifted with a kākahu maumahara, a cloak woven by Alecia Collins, to wear as president of the RSA and to be handed down to future leaders.
Clark said by wearing the kākahu to occasions like Anzac Day services it will increase the mana of the cloak.
''I will pass it on to my successor which will happen in October this year and as each national president wears it, part of their mana will be ingrained in the cloak.''