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New Zealand and the Vietnam War

In 1963 Prime Minister Keith Holyoake agreed to send non-combatant troops into the Vietnam War. This topic covers the anti-war protests, defence forces, action in Vietnam, apology from the Crown, compensation for veterans and refugees from Vietnam. SCIS no: 1907663

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Flag lowering ceremony, Vietnam

Flag lowering ceremony, Vietnam

The Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment flag and the Royal Australian Regiment flag are lowered for the last time at Nui Dat, South Vietnam, in November 1971. Australians and New Zealanders had ope...

Asian conflicts: Vietnam War

The operations in Malaya/Malaysia paled in significance to those undertaken in nearby Vietnam, from 1964. The French withdrawal in 1954 had left two regimes in Vietnam – the Viet Minh-dominated Dem...

Infantrymen in Vietnam, 1969

Infantrymen in Vietnam, 1969

Infantrymen of the 6th RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Battalion alight from helicopters at a landing zone in Vietnam in August 1969. New Zealanders and Australians fought side by side in Vietnam. The New Zealand i...

With a haka and chanting, this group of men and women is giving a pōwhiri (formal welcome) to New Zealand veterans of the Vietnam War in 1998. The woman in the foreground is brandishing a taiaha (t...

Vietnam war protests

Vietnam war protests

A set of images, audio, video, articles and research papers on protests against the Vietnam War.

Māori artillerymen in Vietnam

Māori artillerymen in Vietnam

A group of Māori gunners are seen in action in Vietnam. New Zealand forces served in the Vietnam War from 1965 to 1972. The main forces deployed were an artillery battery, two infantry companies an...

Vietnam mascots

Vietnam mascots

Representatives from the New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy and Royal New Zealand Air Force hold puppy mascots in Vietnam.

Classroom ideas - the Vietnam War

This page contains a broad outline as to how the material on the Vietnam War could be used by teachers and learners studying history at NCEA Level 1 and in particular the popular topic of New Zeala...

Memories of Service 3 - Wayne Chester

Memories of Service 3 - Wayne Chester

Like many young New Zealand males during the late 1960s, Wayne Chester joined the army and headed overseas to fight in Vietnam. As a machine gunner he patrolled the jungles outside of Saigon and sa...

Dien Bien Phu memorial

Dien Bien Phu memorial

This memorial celebrates the Vietnamese victory over the French at Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam, in May 1954. After Dien Bien Phu the French began negotiations to withdraw from their former colonies in I...

New Zealand signs Manila Pact

The South-East Asia Collective Defence Treaty, or Manila Pact, aimed to contain the spread of communism in the region. The South-East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) was the institutional expressi...

New Zealand in Vietnam - 50 years on

Veterans who served as artillery gunners during the Vietnam War are at a reunion today to mark the 50th anniversary of New Zealand's involvement.

Whiskey Company [electronic resource] : South Vietnam 1967-68.

Site includes company history and operations, honour roll, photo gallery, and poems.

Weapons of the Vietnam war

Weapons of the Vietnam war

Guns, helicopters and jeeps used in the Vietnam War

Vietnam War vet challenges US over Agent Orange

Vietnam War vet challenges US over Agent Orange

Vietnam War veteran calls for US Military to come clean over allegations of Agent Orange use on Guam.

Research papers

The Post-War Reconciliation Process Of New Zealand Vietnam War Veterans

Contact is an essential component in addressing prejudice, resolving conflict and improving intergroup attitudes and relations. War encourages prejudice, stereotyping and dehumanization between mil...

Research papers

Combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder and interpersonal functioning in veterans of the Vietnam War : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology at Massey University

Data reported in this thesis was collected as part of a national survey investigating the mental health of a community sample of New Zealand Vietnam War veterans. This thesis investigates the relat...

Holyoake's reluctant commitment, 1964

Holyoake's reluctant commitment, 1964

In this cartoon from April 1964, Uncle Sam pushes prime ministers Robert Menzies of Australia and Keith Holyoake of New Zealand to make stronger contributions to the Vietnam War. While officially s...

VietnamWar.govt.nz [electronic resource] : memories of New Zealand and the Vietnam War.

Vietnam War Oral History Project site has a veterans' roll, roll of honour, interviews, photographs and sound and video files. Includes material for teachers and students with activities and teach...

Vietnam war hero Morrie Stanley dies

New Zealand war hero Morrie Stanley, credited with saving more than 100 Australian soldiers during the Vietnam War, has died. He was 79.

Vietnam Vet's Apology (Part 1)

Vietnam Vet's Apology (Part 1)

Emotional scenes filled Parliament's public gallery as Vietnam War veterans heard the Crown's long-awaited apology.

Death in Hue 1969: Who Pulled the Trigger? - Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Vol. 38, No. 6 April 10, 1975

Just after the My Lai massacres were discovered came reports in the papers of a massive communist massacre in Hue which supposedly occurred during NLF occupation during the 1968 Tet offensive. The ...

Vietnamese family

Vietnamese family

The collapse of American-backed régimes in South-East Asia sent some refugees to New Zealand, including over 4,000 from Vietnam. Here, the Buivan family from Vietnam pose in their Wellington dairy ...

Medical aid to South Vietnam

Humanitarian aid was sometimes highly politicised. Despite doubts about the regime in power at the time, the New Zealand government provided aid to South Vietnam in the early 1960s. Vietnam had bee...

Research papers

Escapism, normality and domesticity in Vietnam: A re-examination of women’s lives in the Vietnam War

This thesis explores the experiences of military nurses and Red Cross Supplemental Recreational Activities Overseas (SRAO) volunteers, also known as “Donut Dollies,” who served in Vietnam. By exami...

Medal, South Vietnam Campaign

Medal, South Vietnam Campaign

A South Vietnam Campaign medal. The medal is a six pointed gold coloured star with rays, superimposed by a white enamelled star with a green enamelled disc at the centre. The disc features a styli...

Troops from Vietnam

Troops from Vietnam

Protestors in the background. Man seated in back of jeep, with glasses, identified as Trevor Higginson. Man standing at front of jeep is Neville Fisher, 161 Battery.

D.W. Vietnam War Shots

D.W. Vietnam War Shots

Copy, Vietnam war shots, photographed 1974 by K E Niven and Co of Wellington. Description from negative envelope and studio card index. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description...

Photographs of Vietnam War veterans marching to Parliament, Wellington

Photographs of Vietnam War veterans marching to Parliament, Wellington

Photographs of the Tribute08 Honour March, taken 31 May 2008 by Dylan Owen. The photographs show Vietnam War veterans and family members marching along Lambton Quay to Parliament, Wellington. Also ...

Matua P. Teokoitu in field, holding coconut. Vietnam [copy]

Matua P. Teokoitu in field, holding coconut. Vietnam [copy]

Colour restored Inkjet photograph, taken from original 1960s-70s photograph.

In a policy known as ‘Vietnamisation’ the number of United States combat troops was gradually reduced and their places were taken by soldiers in an expanded South Vietnamese army.

Peter Arnett on Prepared for Action in the Vietnam War

Kiwi Peter Arnett reports from battlefields for more than 40 years.

Nick Turner – doyen of Vietnam War reporting

New Zealand journalist Nick Turner headed the Reuters office and made his mark during the Vietnam War.

The work of the NZ Services Medical Team

The work and challenges of the NZ Services Medical Team in Vietnam.

New Zealand’s foreign policy after the war

Vietnam's long shadow over NZ foreign policy.

Pdf on New Zealand’s reluctant entry into the Vietnam War.

Teaching the Vietnam War at school

Factsheets, activity ideas and resources on teaching about the Vietnam War.

New Zealand's Vietnam War timeline

Timeline of New Zealand’s involvement from 1963 to 2006 with the signing of the MOU.

Memorandum of understanding

MOU between the Crown and the ex-Vietnam Services Association and the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association.

Crown apology to Vietnam veterans

Ministerial statement to Parliament – Crown apology to Vietnam veterans.

Facts and a brief history about the Vietnam War.

Historic details about the Vietnam War.

Viet Cong made Machine Gun

Thompson Sub Machine Gun (SMG) made locally by the Viet Cong in jungle workshops.

Refugee Tran Lawrence is finally happy in his own skin

Smuggled on a boat, Tran and family journey to New Zealand.

The Vietnamese community in New Zealand

Vietnamese people who live, work and study in New Zealand.

John Bluett on Vietnam & Agent Orange

John Bluett’s personal experience as a Vietnam Veteran.

Vietnam War – half a century of memories

A week-long trip to commemorate the war, share stories and shed some tears.

Primary Sources and Teaching activities

Explore primary sources and teaching activities related to the Vietnam war and era.

National Commemoration of the Vietnam War

Press release on National Commemoration of the Vietnam War.

National Commemoration of the Vietnam War

Press release on National Commemoration of the Vietnam War.

Vietnam War: The Face of the Enemy (Vietnamese Perspective)

This film investigates the hearts and minds of Vietnamese who fought in the Vietnam war.

A New Zealand Vietnamese family remembers

Nhu Bich Chung (Nikki) was born in war-torn Vietnam. Nikki can't remember much about her hell boat ride from Vietnam to Malaysia as a child refugee.

Home Fires Burning: New Zealand's Vietnam War

Over 3500 New Zealanders served in Vietnam between 1964 and 1972 – this country's longest and most controversial war effort of the twentieth century.

Vietnam war pictures

Photographs of the Vietnam war.

The Tribute08, the MOU and the reunion event.

New Zealand and the Vietnam War

Interviews with some of the 3,500 New Zealanders who served in Vietnam between 1963 and 1975.

Vietnam War art

Artistic impressions of the Vietnam War.

Vietnam War with Poetry and Archives

Poetry and resources to help students explore multiple perspectives on the war.

Joanne Black interviews Vietnam veteran

Interview with Chris Mullane Vietnam veteran and chairman of the Tribute08 Organising Committee.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund

A tangible symbol to recognise lives lost in the Vietnam War.

Photograph that haunted the world

Photograph of Kim Phuc running from a napalm attack on her village.

Stand Up: A History of Protest in New Zealand School Journal Level 3: Nov: 2017

Protests in New Zealand that include the protest against the Vietnam War.

Research papers

Mortality and cancer experience of New Zealand Vietnam war veterans

A study to observe the patterns of mortality and cancer incidence in New Zealand Vietnam veterans.

Demonstrators at a sit-in at the Prime Ministers suite, protesting against the Vietnam War

Sit-in at the Prime Ministers suite

This anti-Vietnam War sit-in was staged in June 1965. It was part of years of protest against America’s (and later New Zealand’s) involvement in the Vietnam War. This was New Zealand’s first televi...

Vietnamese women and children awaiting treatment at the Bong Son district dispensary during the Vietnam War - Photographer unidentified

Vietnamese women and children at the Bong Son district dispensary

Along with the combat forces sent to Vietnam, the New Zealand Services Medical Team was deployed to provide humanitarian and civilian aid to the town of Bong Son province from May 1967 to December ...

Bill Rawiri, Vietnam war veteran - Photograph taken by Craig Simcox

Bill Rawiri, Vietnam war veteran

This is a photograph of Vietnam war veteran Bill Rawiri. The Online Cenotaph lists him as William Ernest Rawiri. Service number 388570. He was a Lance Corporal in the Royal New Zealand Infantry Reg...

To the War! Any War. Boer War. The Great War. WWII. Korea. Vietnam. "Afghanistan!" 14 Aug 2009

To the War! Any War

Loyalty to the British Empire was one reason that New Zealand soldiers fought in the Boer War, the First World War and the Second World War. Then in 1950 when communist North Korea invaded South Ko...

"Vietnam was hell!" "We were poisoned... despised.. harassed... neglected... abused.." "and that was from our own side!" "Okay.. okay... We're very sorry!" 23 May, 2008

"Vietnam was hell!"

The health of some New Zealand Vietnam War soldiers suffered after they were exposed to the herbicide called ‘Agent Orange’. This was used by the US military to clear forest cover in the Vietnam wa...

Jane Fonda. 5 March, 2006.

Jane Fonda, Vietnam war activist

This is a caricature of Jane Fonda, American actress, fitness guru, and once a famous anti-Vietnam War activist. America’s involvement in the Vietnam War generated huge protests in America. Many pu...

Photographic poster of Ho Chi Minh

Portrait of Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh or ‘Uncle Ho’ as he was also known was inspired by Russia’s communist revolution. By the late 1880’s, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, collectively known as Indochina were controlled by the...

William and Hoa Awatere with a photograph of their uncle and brother who was killed serving in the Vietnam war - Photograph taken by John Nicholson

Willy Awatere killed in the Vietnam war

William and Hoa Awatere hold a photograph of William's uncle and Hoa's brother, Willy Awatere, who was killed by a landmine in the Vietnam War. American landmines used in the war (like the M16 lan...

D.W. Vietnam War Shots

Vietnam War shots

The Media (especially TV) played a very important role in the Vietnam War. Stories, interviews and photographs of the suffering, destruction, and cost of human life polarised and often outraged peo...