Friday 30 May to Sunday 1 June 2008

Queens Birthday Weekend

WELLINGTON

Tribute08 is set to be a hugely significant event not only for Vietnam Veterans but also their families, the wider Veteran community, and New Zealand as a whole. The event will commemorate those who served in Vietnam and will be a reunion for many Vets. There will also be opportunities for the public to be involved, including a public commemoration and concert.

You can register for Tribute08 here, or contact us on:
0800 VIETNAM or +64 04 499 4938;
email: mail@tribute08.co.nz;
write: Tribute08, PO Box 11 034, Wellington.

New images for Tribute08

We are very proud to present two images (see above right) which will be used as visual symbols throughout Tribute08. Photographed by award-winning New Zealand-born photographer Tania Niwa, each photograph was designed to capture the essence of Tribute08 - the Tribute to those veterans and family members who made sacrifice and contribution to the nation, Commemoration of past events and deeds, and Celebration of the present and future.

The first image represents the young soldier going off to war, while the second is some 40 years later when the Vietnam Veteran reflects with his granddaughter.

We acknowledge and thank Vietnam Veteran Vic Gadsby and his granddaughter, Vanessa, for making themselves available to appear in the second image.

Tribute08 in the news and media

Chris Mullane on Radio New Zealand

Tribute08 Chairman, Chris Mullane, talks to Radio New Zealand's Chris Laidlaw on his Sunday morning programme (broadcast Sunday 20 April 2008).

ANZAC: Vietnam veterans about to come in from the cold

Katie Small reports, in the Pacific Media Centre website, on the Kiwi Vietnam Veterans who have waged a long battle over exposure to Agent Orange and for recognition by their own country.

Subsidy announced for Veteran travel to Tribute08

31 January 2008

The Minister of Veterans' Affairs, Hon Rick Barker has agreed to a government contribution towards travel costs for New Zealand Vietnam Veterans attending Tribute08 during Queens Birthday weekend, 30 May to 1 June 2008.

This special government travel grant is available to all New Zealand Vietnam Veterans registering to attend Tribute08 from outside of the Wellington region including those veterans living overseas. The grant can be applied to any mode of public or private transport. This grant is specifically for New Zealand Vietnam Veterans only and is in addition to the generous accommodation subsidy (two nights for the price of one or better) available to all veterans and family members attending Tribute08.

This one off grant is not related to any entitlement that veterans might have under the Ministerial Commemorations Discretionary Fund. Veterans who accept the special travel grant to Tribute08 are still able to seek funding from the Ministerial Commemoration Discretionary Fund to travel to commemorations or undertake battlefield visits.

Access to the travel subsidy will be activated upon receipt of your registration for Tribute08. The Tribute08 team will then work with VANZ so that the appropriate grant can be paid.

The grants that will be paid are outlined in the following table:

Travel to Wellington from	One off Grant
The Northland area	$150
The area from Auckland to Taupo	$100
The area from South of Taupo to Wellington	$70
The area from Nelson/Blenheim to Christchurch	$100
The area from Christchurch South	$130
Western Australia	$550
Northern Territory	$700
South Australia, Queensland, NSW and Victoria	$340
Tasmania	$400
Pacific	$400
Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America	$1,000

Please note that Air New Zealand recently announced to the public special airfares for travel around New Zealand. You are urged to register early and book these special fares to secure the best travel and accommodation arrangements.

Air New Zealand fare schedule current at 31 January 2008

Auckland To Wellington	$69 one way
Christchurch to Wellington	$79 one way
Dunedin to Wellington	$89 one way
Tauranga to Wellington	$99 one way
Hamilton to Wellington	$89 one way
Napier/Hastings to Wellington	$74 one way
Invercargill to Wellington	$163 one way

These fares are subject to availability and can be purchased on-line at www.airnewzealand.co.nz or by phoning 0800 737 000 or through an Air New Zealand Travel Centre.

Please address any questions about the special Tribute08 Travel Grant to the Tribute08 office - Phone: 0800 VIETNAM (0800 843 8626) or email to mail@tribute08.co.nz

Update on Tribute08 Accommodation Rates

Tribute08 registrations and accommodation bookings are flowing in from all parts of the country and from overseas. One sub-unit group has registered 76 people. Family groups are registering as many as 13 family members covering three generations. Sub-unit representatives are busy encouraging and coordinating attendance by veterans and families. They are also working to trace and make contact with those people who have been out of touch for a while, including widows etc.

Accommodation Rates

Please note that the accommodation rates being offered on the Tribute08 registration form are for two nights not one. Some people have incorrectly read them as being a one-night rate.

Please keep those registrations rolling in, and help encourage others to attend and bring their families.

Check out the accommodation options available in Wellington for Tribute08.