WAI2500 | An interview with Lieutenant Colonel Martin Dransfield, ONZM

The Waitangi Tribunal Wai 2500 Military Veterans Kaupapa Inquiry was initiated in September 2014.

Kaupapa inquiries deal with nationally significant issues affecting Māori as a whole. This kauapa hearing (WAI2500) hears claims involving past Māori military service undertaken directly for, or on behalf of, the Crown in right of New Zealand or, in colonial times, the Imperial Crown.

LtCol Martin Dransfield, ONZM was appointed as the NZDF lead, a role that he has now filled for over three years with a small team. LtCol Dransfield and his team attend the hearings to listen and understand the concerns that are raised, with the aim of making improvements for all veterans and their whānau.

The following is an interview with LtCol Martin Dransfield

LtCol Martin Dransfield, what is your role in terms of the WAI2500 hearings and how long have you been involved?

My position is the NZDF Wai 2500 Military Veterans Kaupapa Inquiry Director, which translates into having the responsibility to work with the Waitangi Tribunal, Crown Agencies and the Claimants to meet the Crown’s objectives to prepare an official narrative that will put Māori experiences of military service on public record, and to consider and discuss potential improvements in the current implementation of veterans’, service peoples’ and their whānau support measures.

What has been the key takeaway for you from these hearings?

To date, there have been hearings in Tunohopu Marae in Rotorua in June 2023. It opened with a kōrero from Tā Robert ‘Bom’ Gillies, the last surviving member of the 28th Māori Battalion. The second hearing occurred in Mōtatau Marae in March 2024. At the Pōwhiri, the former Defence Minister Peeni Henare, along with Kaumātua from Ngāti Hine, welcomed the Tribunal, senior NZDF leaders and claimants onto Mōtatau Marae grounds.

Issues raised by claimants included discrimination, recognition, disproportionate risk of harm, inadequate care and rehabilitation, welfare and entitlements, and cultural practices.

The third hearing was at the Takahiwai Marae in May 2024, where the key issues raised by the claimants included how the NZDF safely brings back our people from overseas, including the Whakanoa process and recognition, prepares service people for life after service, and supports the whānau of serving personnel and veterans.

There will be further hearings in 2024, followed by three Crown Hearings in 2025, which will include the Tribunal-commissioned report writers, Crown-commissioned report witnesses, and NZDF witnesses.   

What do you hope will come from these hearings?

Our approach is to listen, engage and keep an open mind, with a view to actively look for opportunities to improve the experience of Māori veterans and service people, and the Māori Crown relationship generally.

What has been a highlight for you?

Working with incredible people. The Tribunal, Crown officials and agencies, NZDF and claimants who all believe in a process that aims to learn from the past, and shape a better future for not only our Māori veterans and service people, but all veterans and their whānau.

Further information about WAI2500 on the Waitangi Tribunal website (external link)

More about LTCOL Martin Dransfield

Lieutenant Colonel Martin Dransfield’s career has spanned five decades. It includes tours to Northern Ireland, Berlin, Sinai, Timor-Leste as the second New Zealand Battalion’s Commanding Officer in 2000, Afghanistan as the Commander of New Zealand’s Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamyan during 2009 and 2010, and a two-year tour as the United Nations Chief Military Liaison Officer in Timor-Leste. He was posted to Timor-Leste as a strategic advisor to the Timorese Defence Force following the UN withdrawal.

Veterans’ Affairs and WAI2500

While NZDF led the engagement with WAI2500, our staff have also attended many of the WAI2500 hearings and have provided information to the WAI2500 and the NZDF team, and responses to questions from the Inquiry since December 2017.