What the official record says
This Act is the Veterans’ Recognition Act . This Act comes into force on the day after Royal assent. The purpose of this Act is— to acknowledge and recognise the military service of veterans; and to confirm that those persons described as veterans in this Act are to be known as veterans and may refer to themselves as veterans; and to establish the Covenant. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— means the medal awarded under the Royal Warrant (SR ) dated 6 April 2011 and the New Zealand Defence Service Medal Regulations 2011 has the meaning given in section 2(1) of the Defence Act 1990 has the meaning given in section 2(1) of the Defence Act 1990 means— a person who has served, but is not currently serving, as a member of the regular forces or the territorial forces and who h