Petition 2014/101 of Thomas Peter Alan Ward

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Petition 2014/101 of Thomas Peter Alan Ward Report of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee Contents Recommendation 2 Request for the creation of a

1 Petition 2014/101 of Thomas Peter Alan Ward Report of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee Contents Recommendation 2 Request for the creation of a Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal 2 The petitioner s submission 2 Comments from the Clerk of the Executive Council 3 Our response to the petitioner 4 Appendix 6

2 Petition 2014/101 of Thomas Peter Alan Ward Recommendation The Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee has considered Petition 2014/101 of Thomas Peter Alan Ward, and recommends that the House take note of its report. Request for the creation of a Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal This petition, presented on 18 January 2017, requests: That the House note that 234 people have signed a petition requesting that the House consider the creation of a Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal for New Zealanders who provide humanitarian relief in disasters or emergency situations overseas. Our consideration of the petition We received written submissions from the petitioner and the Clerk of the Executive Council. We also heard from the petitioner in person. The petitioner s submission The petitioner seeks recognition for individuals who provide humanitarian service overseas in disaster and dangerous situations. This recognition would be in the form of a Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal. The petitioner told us that hundreds of New Zealanders serve in humanitarian crises all over the world, often at great risk to their own personal safety. The petitioner submits that humanitarian service is a virtue and a sacrifice that needs to be recognised and celebrated by New Zealanders. The petitioner said that honours, such as the New Zealand Order of Merit, are usually reserved for individuals with long and distinguished service careers. Although acknowledgement is sometimes given for humanitarian efforts, the petitioner noted that none of the people included in the last honours list received awards for humanitarian service overseas in dangerous or disaster situations. International models The petitioner told us about other countries that award medals for people who carry out humanitarian relief work overseas. Australia, for example, has a Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal for individuals who have undertaken humanitarian work overseas in a disaster situation or where there is danger to life. The petitioner suggests that the award criteria for this medal are well formed and tested, and could easily be adapted to a New Zealand context. Support for the petitioner We are aware that many non-government organisations (NGOs) support the petition. They include the NGO Disaster Relief Forum, whose members are New Zealand-based NGOs that respond regularly to humanitarian situations and emergency or disaster management around the world. 2

3 In the appendix to his written submission the petitioner listed key messages of support from many organisations that provide humanitarian aid. These organisations include: World Vision New Zealand Volunteer Service Abroad New Zealand Save the Children New Zealand The Salvation Army New Zealand ChildFund New Zealand The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) New Zealand Tearfund NZ Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand Christian Blind Mission (CBM) NZ Habitat for Humanity New Zealand New Zealand Red Cross Rotary New Zealand World Community Service Returned Services Association New Zealand Police Fire and Emergency New Zealand. Comments from the Clerk of the Executive Council Current recognition for New Zealanders who provide humanitarian relief in disaster or emergency situations The Clerk of the Executive Council noted that some existing medals and awards recognise humanitarian efforts. The New Zealand Royal Honours system formally acknowledges and celebrates the service and achievement of New Zealanders, and of non-new Zealand citizens who have served New Zealand. Because the Prime Minister is the primary decision-maker and adviser to the Queen, any proposal to establish a new medal for humanitarian overseas service would fall within their responsibilities. Foreign honours may be bestowed on New Zealanders who undertake humanitarian service overseas. However, the petitioner says that these honours are not officially recognised by New Zealand. Also, many countries in which New Zealanders provide humanitarian support would not bestow such honours. The Clerk of the Executive Council told us that approval to accept and wear a foreign honour may be given by the Prime Minister where it is judged to be in the best interests of New Zealand. We heard that the New Zealand Special Service Medal could be awarded for humanitarian efforts. The petitioner said he understood that this medal could be awarded only where the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is deployed, and he would like humanitarian efforts of civilians to be recognised as well. However, the Clerk of the Executive Council told us that while the NZDF administers the medal, NZDF involvement is not a prerequisite for 3

4 the award. The medal may be given to any New Zealander who undertakes a special service that is not normally recognised by a campaign medal. The petitioner also observed that this medal has only been awarded three times, usually some years after the humanitarian service took place. International models We heard that the United Kingdom does not have a dedicated medal for humanitarian service overseas, but humanitarian service is recognised and awarded through various levels of the Order of the British Empire and the Queen s Birthday Honours lists. The Queen also recently approved the creation of the Ebola Medal for Service in West Africa, to recognise those who helped in that humanitarian crisis. In Australia, the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal recognises humanitarian service provided in response to civil unrest and national disasters overseas. Since the medal was established, Australia has also created a similar medal for domestic national emergencies. In 2009 Canada broadened its humanitarian service medal to include the overseas service of civilians employed by the Government. To receive the medal, service must be performed under exceptional circumstances and the person must have been deployed specifically to provide that service on a full-time basis. The medal can only be awarded when there is a certain level of risk, threat, hardship, or operational intensity. Summary Both the petitioner and the Clerk of the Executive Council agree that a version of the New Zealand Special Service Medal could be issued specifically for humanitarian service overseas. We were pleased to hear that this matter is on the NZDF work programme for future consideration. The Clerk noted that, for someone to be eligible for the medal, a high threshold in terms of the degree of danger and hazard of an operation would most likely apply. The petitioner commented that non-conflict situations can also be dangerous and expose humanitarian workers to risks from lawlessness, disease, and poor sanitation. We also heard that some organisations and agencies can make internal commendations, and they also have medals they can award. For example, the New Zealand Police may award the New Zealand Police Meritorious Service Medal. Our response to the petitioner We support the petitioner s proposal to create a medal that recognises individuals who provide humanitarian service overseas in disaster and dangerous situations. We agree that the work of New Zealanders to provide humanitarian support overseas needs to be recognised and awarded. New Zealanders have a reputation for generosity, ingenuity, and bravery, and we consider that these traits are to be celebrated, both in recognition of humanitarian achievement and for the benefit of society. In our view, consideration needs to be given to defining the scope of the humanitarian service to be recognised. Although the petitioner is seeking recognition for humanitarian service in disaster or emergency situations, other kinds of humanitarian service also deserve recognition, such as sustained service in rebuilding after a disaster. Consideration must also be given to the degree of risk or danger involved in the humanitarian service that would qualify a group or individual for an award. Currently, the 4

5 New Zealand Special Service Medal recognises humanitarian service in extreme or hazardous circumstances. However, we see a need for a medal for humanitarian service in situations that involve very difficult and adverse circumstances beyond what people could typically be expected to deal with as part of their normal duties or work. The Clerk of the Executive Council suggested that one option would be to create a version of the New Zealand Special Service Medal (Humanitarian). We support this proposal. We were pleased by the Clerk s comment that, if New Zealand s NGO community identifies an area of humanitarian service for a new issue of the New Zealand Special Service Medal, any such proposal would be carefully considered. The Clerk of the Executive Council told us that the possibility of extending recognition further to smaller-scale humanitarian events has been raised in the past, and is part of the NZDF work programme. We were pleased to hear this, and we encourage progress with this work programme and will continue to monitor this issue with interest. 5

6 Appendix Committee procedure Petition 2014/101 of Thomas Peter Alan Ward was referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee on 18 January We considered the petition between 9 February and 27 July We received written submissions from the petitioner and the Clerk of the Executive Council, and heard oral evidence from the petitioner. Committee members Todd Muller (Chairperson) Hon Jo Goodhew Dr Kennedy Graham Hon Annette King Hon Hekia Parata Hon David Parker Dr Shane Reti Stuart Smith Fletcher Tabuteau Lindsay Tisch 6

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