NZDF Herbicide Investigation Documents released

As part of the ongoing investigation into the use of herbicides in South Vietnam, Minister of Defence Mark Burton today forwarded previously unreleased documents to several MPs, including chair of the Health Select Committee Steve Chadwick.

The documents detail a 1967 incident in which it appears New Zealand troops were directly exposed to aerial spraying. They also make reference to the use of herbicides by New Zealand personnel in routine perimeter clearance.

The recollections of some veterans suggest that there may have been other incidents of direct spraying. Because they were not considered significant at the time, these incidents were never reported. 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 on an ongoing basis.

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