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Labour last to recognise war heroine
Judith Collins MP
National Party Veterans Affairs
Spokeswoman
28 April 2006
Labour last to recognise
war heroine
The Labour Government is the last to recognise the actions of New Zealand’s greatest living war heroine, says National’s Veterans Affairs spokeswoman, Judith Collins.
Nancy Wake, the Allied Forces’ most decorated servicewoman in World War II, has now been awarded the New Zealand Returned and Services Association’s highest honour.
Ms Collins says the Government has failed to recognise her heroism, and it is an embarrassment.
“So far, requests to have Nancy Wake honoured have fallen on deaf ears. The Government’s only response has been to belittle her courage and self-sacrifice.”
Jim Anderton said of Ms Wake: ‘Being famous, and born in New Zealand, are not of themselves sufficient reasons for her to be considered for an honour, however heroic her history.’
“I hope that following the RSA’s award, the Government will finally do something to acknowledge her contribution to the war effort.
“She deserves to receive an honour from her country of birth to go with the ones she’s already received from Australia, Britain, France and the United States,” says Ms Collins.
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