New Zealand Nuclear Test Veterans Association (NZNTVA) does not have a large veterans member base of the HMNZS Otago and Canterbury tours of Mururoa. Obviously establishing the health status of the Mururoa veterans is difficult. NZNTVA does however consider that the Mururoa test site would have the same basic dangers attached to it as every other nuclear test site internationally. As such over the years in dealing with the Grapple issues, NZNTVA has also acted in the interests of the Mururoa veterans also.

The NZNTVA research project is a good example. The Government grant and the further $78,000 NZNTVA raised through donations for the Clinical Assessment Programme at Massey University was only enough to do reserch on an absolute minimum of 50 veterans from one theatre. The obvious choice, due to age, amount of exposure, data held, contact addresses etc, were the Grapple veterans. Additionally it would not be scientifically possible, to have involved any Mururoa veterans, and have got a scientifically sound result. However, it must be obvious to anyone with an ounce of common sense, that the results from the Grapple veterans study, would have considerable relevance to the Mururoa veterans also, and other nuclear test veterans internationally. The recently released CAP "Psychological Impact Study" is an excellent example of that.

NZNTVA is aware that claims have been made of unnatural and substantial numbers of deaths and cancers and other illnesses amongst the Mururoa Veterans. The NZNTVA Chairman received a phone call from a NZ Herald reporter asking if we could substantiate the Mururoa Veterans Health problems. The reporter advised that he had contacted RIMPAC earlier and asked the same question to which he received a large multi page unintelligible response. We of course, could not assist him either.

At conference, and after the plaque dedication, we made an effort to establish from the Mururoa veterans if they were aware of any source that has reliable and documented data on the Mururoa veteran's health problems. No one did. Going from this response, and certainly RIMPAC's (The Chairman, Tony Cox is a Mururoa veteran) response to the NZ Hearld reporter, then there is no tangible recorded data that can be measured against the general population, or against the Mururoa cohort overall. Certainly without such information it is virtually impossible for any individual or group, to make a fully informed argument to Government or it's agencies.

If there is evidence of ill health amongst the Mururoa veterans out there, then those who are aware of it, should be documenting it and presenting it to Government and it's agencies, to ensure that the Mururoa veterans, and their families, are receiving the attention that they should.

NZNTVA is committed to looking after, as best it can, and within its means, nuclear test veterans and their families, irrespective of the veterans threatre of service. As previously stated, the majority of the projects and work that we are involved in, is also done with the Mururoa veterans in mind, and the flow on effect to the Mururoa Veterans' has, and is happening. They also benefit from our work.