 "consistently high" and were aware that "their welfare was being adequately cared for" throughout.

In writing his 2010 account, however, he did not talk to any of the New Zealand Press Association correspondents who reported the war from 1965 to 1975.

In this correspondent's experience, the government maintained throughout at best a parsimonious and half-hearted commitment of support for the troops it sent. On every visit I made between January 1970 and December 1972, the most senior officers never failed to brief me in detail on complaints that went well beyond the expected whinges of troops at war.

Alone among the allies, the New Zealanders paid income tax and this was still a bitter issue with vets in 2008 when Helen Clark's government made a long-overdue acknowledgement to the more than 3000 New Zealanders who served in Vietnam, and honoured the 37 who died and 187 wounded.

"The Crown extends to New Zealand Vietnam veterans and their families an apology for the manner in which their loyal service in the name of New Zealand was not recognised in the way it should have been…" Clark told Parliament in May 2008 before the vets' first welcome-home parade through the streets of Wellington.

They had been denied a cost of living increase awarded to fellow defence personnel and all other public servants at home. They had their overseas allowances cut by 43 per cent in May 1971 after an irrelevant devaluation of the Vietnamese piaster and this was repeated for a handful of officers and men remaining at the end of 1972.

Senior officers told me that penny-pinching cost-cutting forced Kiwi troops to beg, borrow or steal from the lavishly-equipped Americans everything from basics like pumps, generators and vehicles to comforts such as water coolers, refrigerators and movies.

"We've become the biggest bludgers of the Vietnam War," one soldier told me. "We've had to."

David Barber covered the Vietnam War as the New Zealand Press Association's South-east Asia correspondent in 1970-73. A protest movement in Hungary over corruption and an increasingly pro-Russian leadership broke out this week, raising questions about whether the former communist nation is on the verge of becoming the next Ukraine. Hungary is more stable than Ukraine, which has been besieged by sectarian conflict for months, and seems less likely to fall into violent conflict, but growing anti-government demonstrations could become another battleground between Europe and Russia.

The
" consistently high " and were aware that " their welfare was being adequately wish for " passim. 

 In writing his 2010 account, however, he did not spill the beans to any of the New Zealand Press Association correspondent who reported the war from 1965 to 1975. 

 In this correspondent's experience, the government wield throughout at best a parsimonious and half - hearted commitment of documentation for the troops it sent. On every sojourn I made between January 1970 and December 1972, the most senior officers never fail to brief me in detail on complaints that went well beyond the expected whinges of troops at war. 

 Alone among the ally, the New Zealanders paid income tax and this was still a bitter offspring with vets in 2008 when Helen Clark's government made a long - overdue recognition to the more than 3000 New Zealanders who served in Vietnam, and honoured the 37 who died and 187 wounded. 

 " The Crown extends to New Zealand Vietnam veteran and their families an apology for the manner in which their loyal service in the name of New Zealand was not recognised in the way it should have been … " Clark told Parliament in May 2008 before the vets' first welcome - home parade through the streets of Wellington. 

 They had been denied a cost of living increase awarded to fellow defence personnel and all early public servant at home. They have their oversea allowances cut by 43 per penny in May 1971 after an irrelevant devaluation of the Vietnamese piaster and this was repeat for a handful of officers and men remain at the end of 1972. 

 Senior officers told me that penny - pinching cost - cutting forced Kiwi troops to beg, borrow or steal from the extravagantly - equipped Americans everything from fundamentals like pumps, generators and vehicles to comforts such as water cooler, refrigerators and movies. 

 " We've become the biggest bludgers of the Vietnam War, " one soldier tell me. " We've had to. " 

 David Barber covered the Vietnam War as the New Zealand Press Association's South - east Asia correspondent in 1970 - 73. A protest movement in Hungary over corruption and an increasingly pro - Russian leadership break out this week, raise questions about whether the erstwhile communist nation is on the brink of becoming the following Ukraine. Hungary is more stable than Ukraine, which has been besiege by sectarian conflict for months, and seem less likely to descend into violent dispute, but growing anti - government demonstrations could become another battleground between Europe and Russia. 

 The
 "cojsistently high" and were aware that "thene welfere was being aaequately cared for" throughont.

In writung his 2010 account, howevdr, he did not talj to qny of the New Zealand Pdcss Avwociation corrgspondents wvo reported tha dax from 1965 to 1975.

In this correspondent's ex[eriencr, hhe government maimeainsd throughout at best a parsimoniohs and ialf-hearted comkitment of support for the trolps it sent. On evegy visit I nade vetween Januxry 1970 and Dtczmber 1972, the jost senior officers never faildd to brief me un dehdil on compoaintf that went well beymnd the expected whinnes oh triops at war.

Alone amonj the allies, the New Zealandess paid income tax qne thiv wav stkol x bjtver issue wivh vets in 2008 when Helen Clark's government kaqv a long-overdhe ackgorledgement to the more than 3000 New Zealangera who served in Vietnam, and honoured the 37 whl died anq 187 wounded.

"The Crown extends to New Zealand Vietnak vetxrxns akd tfwig families an apology for the manner in which fhtir loyal service in the namr lf Gew Zealand wxs not redognised in the waj it shjuld yave been…" Clatk told Parliament in May 2008 vefore the vvts' dirst welcome-home 'arade throuyh the strerts of Wellington.

They hcd beeh denied a fost of ljxing increase awxrdvd tm fellow defence personnel and all ithex public serfants wt home. Thfy had their overseas alpowanees cgt by 43 per cent in May 1971 after an irrelevaiv devaluation ox tve Vietncmese iiaster and thif was repeated for a kandfuu of officvrs and mxn remaining at the end ox 1972.

Senior offirers told me rhat penny-pkvching cost-cutying forcvd Kiwu troops to beg, bovrow ud steal from thz oavishly-equippec Aoerycwnx qeerything frmm bxsizx likd pumps, gencragors and vehicles to comxorta such as water coplcrs, refriterators and movies.

"We'fe become the biggtst blndgers of tne Dietnam War," one soldier told ms. "We've haf tj."

David Barbew coyereq the Vietuam War as the New Zealand Press Associavion's South-east Asia coerespondent in 1970-73. A ptottst movement mn Hundary over corruption and an ibcreasingly pro-Ruxsian leadership broks out dhis aeek, raising questions about whether the former communist nation is on thw vergx jf becoming the next Uhxaine. Htngacy is more stable nhan Ukraine, which has been besixged by sewtcrian conflict for months, and sdems less likgly to fall into violent cknflict, nut growing anti-government demomstrations could become snother vattlsground bevween Europe and Rusxia.

The
"consistently high" and were aware that "their being cared for" In writing his not to any of New Zealand Press correspondents who reported the war from to 1975. In this correspondent's experience, the government maintained throughout at best a and half-hearted commitment of support for the troops it sent. On every visit made January and 1972, the most senior officers never failed to brief me in detail on complaints that went beyond the expected whinges of troops at war. among the allies, the Zealanders paid income tax and was a bitter with in when Helen Clark's made a long-overdue acknowledgement to the more than 3000 New Zealanders who served in Vietnam, and honoured 37 who 187 wounded. Crown to Zealand Vietnam veterans families an apology for the manner loyal service in the name of New Zealand not recognised the way it should have been…" told Parliament in May 2008 before the vets' welcome-home parade through the streets of Wellington. They had been denied a cost of living to fellow defence personnel all other public at They their allowances cut 43 per cent in May 1971 after an irrelevant devaluation of Vietnamese piaster and this was repeated for a handful of men at the end 1972. Senior officers told that cost-cutting forced Kiwi troops borrow steal Americans from like pumps, generators and to comforts such as water refrigerators and movies. "We've the Vietnam War," one soldier told me. "We've to." David Barber covered the Vietnam War the New Zealand Press Association's South-east Asia correspondent in 1970-73. A protest in Hungary and an increasingly pro-Russian leadership broke out this raising questions about whether former communist nation is on the verge of becoming next Hungary is stable than Ukraine, has been besieged sectarian conflict for seems less to into growing anti-government demonstrations could become another between and Russia. The
 "consistently high" and were awAre that "theIr welFarE waS bEing AdeqUately cared for" THrouGhout.

In writing his 2010 accouNt, howEvER, he dID nOt talK to any oF ThE nEw ZEaLaNd PReSS ASsociAtiOn correSpondents wHo rEpOrted the war fROm 1965 To 1975.

In this coRreSpondent's expEriEnce, thE gOveRNment MaiNtainEd throUGhout aT best a parSiMOnious ANd half-hEARtEd coMmitment of support FOr THe troops it sent. on everY vISiT i MadE beTween JanuaRy 1970 And DeCEmber 1972, thE MoST SEniOR officers neveR failed to brIEf mE in detAiL on COmplaiNts thAt WEnt Well beyond tHe exPected whiNges of TRoops at WAr.

Alone Among tHe aLliEs, thE neW ZEalAnDErs PAiD inCOme Tax and thIs WaS stilL a biTTER IssuE wiTh veTs in 2008 wHen Helen Clark'S goVernMEnt Made a Long-oVerdUe AcknoWledgeMent tO tHe more than 3000 New ZeAlanDers who seRveD iN ViEtNam, anD HonourEd tHe 37 wHo died aNd 187 woundED.

"ThE CROWN eXtends to New Zealand viETNaM veteranS and thEIr FaMIlies an aPoLogY for THE mannEr in WHiCh their lOyal seRViCe In the naMe Of New ZEaLanD waS not rECognIsed in The way it ShoulD Have been…" Clark tOLd Parliament iN maY 2008 BEfORe thE veTs' first welcOme-hOMe paRade THrOugH The stReets Of wElLIngton.

They had been deNiEd a cosT of liVing increase aWarded to feLLOW defence PersONnEL and all other puBlic sErvants at hOMe. They haD theiR overseaS allowancES Cut by 43 per CenT in may 1971 AftER An Irrelevant devALUatiOn Of the ViEtnAmese piAstEr aNd tHis WaS repeated For a handFuL oF oFfIceRs and MEn remainInG at ThE enD of 1972.

SeNIor offIcers Told Me ThAT peNny-pincHInG COst-cUtTiNg foRceD KIwi trOops TO beG, borrow Or steal frOm tHE lavIsHlY-equippEd Americans evErYthing from BaSicS like pUMPs, generaTors and vehicles to comforTS such as WatEr cooLers, RefrigeraTorS and moVieS.

"we've beCome thE biggEsT blUDGers oF THe vieTnAm War," one soLDIer Told mE. "WE've hAd to."

DavId Barber covered the vIetNam War as the NeW ZeAlanD pReSs ASSoCIatIoN'S SoUTH-east Asia corresPondent in 1970-73. A PrOTeSt movement IN HuNgAry over CorruptIon anD An increAsingly prO-Russian lEaDersHIP brOke out this Week, raisIng questiONs aboUT wHetheR thE formeR cOmmUnist Nation IS on The veRge of bEcOming tHe nexT UKraine. HuNgary is more stable than UkRaine, wHich hAs bEen besiegEd bY SecTarian conFlicT for months, And SeeMs lesS liKEly to Fall INtO viOLent cOnflICt, but growINg AntI-GOvErnment demoNSTRatIons cOulD Become AnotHer battleground beTWeen Europe and RUssiA.

tHe
 "consistently high" and w ere awarethat"th eir  w elfa re w as being adequ a tely  cared for" throughout .

In  w r itin g  h is 20 10 acco u nt , how ev er , h ed id  nottal k to an y of the N ewZe aland PressA ss ociation c orr espondents w horeport ed  th e  warfro m 196 5 to 1 9 75.

I n this co rr e sponde n t's exp e r ie nce,  the government m a in t ained througho ut atbe s ta par sim onious and  h alf-h e arted c o mm i t m ent of support fo r the troop s  it  sent.  O n e v ery vi sit I  m a debetween Jan uary  1970 and  Decem b er 1972 ,  the mo st sen ior  of fice r sne ver  f a ile d  t o b r ief  me in d et ai l oncomp l a i n ts t hat  wen t wel l beyond theexp ecte d  wh inges  of t roop sat wa r.

Al one a mo ng the allies,theNew Zeala nde rs  pa id  inco m e taxand  th is wasstill a bit te r i ss ue with vets in 20 08 w he n HelenClark' s  g ov e rnment m ad e a  lon g - overd ue a c kn owledgem ent to th emore th an  3000Ne w Z eal ander s  who  serve d in Vie tnam, and honoured t h e 37 who died an d 18 7  wou nde d.

"The Cr owne xten ds t o  N ewZ ealan d Vie tn a mv eterans and their f am iliesan ap ology for the  manner in w h ich thei r lo y al service in the  name  of New Ze a land was  notrecognis ed in the w ay it sh oul d h ave  be e n …"  Clark told P a r liam en t in Ma y 2 008 bef ore  th e v ets 'first wel come-hom epa ra de  th rough the stre et s o fWel lingt o n.

Th ey ha d be en  d e nie d a cos t  o f livi ng  i ncre ase  a warde d to fel low def ence pers onn e l an dal l other  public serva nt s at home.  T hey  had t h e ir overs eas allowances cut by 4 3  per ce ntin Ma y 19 71 afteranirrele van t  deval uation  of t he  Vi e t names e pi ast er  and thisw a s r epeat ed  for  a hand ful of officers an d  me n remaining a t t he e n d  o f 1 9 72 . 

S en i oro f ficers told methat penny -p i nc hing cost- c utt in g force d Kiwitroop s  to beg , borrowor stealfr om t h e  la vishly-equ ipped Am ericans e v eryth i ng  from  ba sics l ik e p umps,  gener a tor s and  vehic le s to c omfor ts  such as  water coolers, refrige rators  andmov ies.

"We 've bec ome the b igge st bludger s o f t he Vi etn a m War ," o n esol d ier t oldm e. "We've ha d t o . "
David Barb e r cov eredthe Vietna m Wa r as the New Zeal a nd Press Assoc iati o n 'sSou t h-ea st  Asia correspo nde nt i n 1970-7 3.  A protestmovement  i n  Hung ary ov er cor ruption a nd an inc reas ing ly pro-Ru ssi an leaders hi pb roke o ut t hi s week , rais i ng q u e stions about whe thert h e for m ercommu ni st nati o n is  on the ve rge of beco ming t he n ext U kraine.  H ungary  is  m ore stable than Ukra ine,which h as  bee n b esiege d by s ectar ianco nfl ict for m o n th s ,an d  se emslessli kely  to falli nto viol ent conflic t,  bu t growin g  a n t i-governme ntdemon s t rations co u ld b e co m e ano ther b attleg round b e twe en  Europe  an d Russia.
The
 "consistently_high" and_were aware that "their_welfare was_being_adequately cared_for"_throughout.

In writing his_2010 account, however,_he did not talk_to any of_the_New Zealand Press Association correspondents who reported the war from 1965 to 1975.

In this_correspondent's_experience, the_government_maintained_throughout at best a parsimonious_and half-hearted commitment of support_for the_troops it sent. On every visit I made_between_January 1970 and_December 1972, the most senior officers never failed to_brief me in detail on complaints_that went well_beyond_the_expected whinges of troops_at war.

Alone among the allies, the_New Zealanders paid income tax and_this was still a bitter issue with_vets in 2008 when Helen Clark's_government made a long-overdue acknowledgement_to the_more than 3000 New Zealanders_who served in_Vietnam, and_honoured the 37_who died and 187 wounded.

"The Crown_extends to New_Zealand Vietnam veterans and their families_an_apology for the_manner_in_which their_loyal service in_the_name of_New_Zealand was not recognised in the_way_it should have been…" Clark told Parliament_in May 2008 before_the_vets' first welcome-home parade_through the streets of Wellington.

They_had been denied a cost of_living increase_awarded to_fellow defence personnel and all other public servants at home. They_had their overseas allowances cut by_43 per cent in_May 1971_after_an irrelevant devaluation_of_the Vietnamese_piaster and this was repeated for a_handful of_officers and men remaining at the_end of 1972.

Senior officers_told_me that penny-pinching cost-cutting forced Kiwi_troops to beg, borrow or steal_from the lavishly-equipped Americans everything_from_basics_like pumps, generators and vehicles_to comforts such as water coolers,_refrigerators and movies.

"We've_become the biggest bludgers of the Vietnam_War,"_one soldier told me. "We've had_to."

David_Barber covered the Vietnam War as_the_New_Zealand Press Association's South-east Asia_correspondent in 1970-73. A protest movement_in Hungary over corruption and an increasingly pro-Russian leadership_broke out this_week, raising questions about whether_the_former_communist nation is on the verge of becoming the next_Ukraine. Hungary_is more stable_than Ukraine, which has been besieged by sectarian conflict for_months, and seems less likely to fall_into violent conflict, but growing anti-government demonstrations could become another battleground_between Europe and Russia.

The