Govt hides NZ link to Agent Orange

National Party Deputy Leader Gerry Brownlee wants to know how long the current Government has known of New Zealand’s involvement with the manufacture of Agent Orange.

Senior Cabinet Minister, Harry Duynhoven, today confirmed that New Zealand was involved with the manufacture of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.

“The question is, did Mr Duynhoven knowingly hide this information from the select committee inquiry into Agent Orange and the exposure of kiwi troops to it?” asks Mr Brownlee.

“Surely Mr Duynhoven wasn’t the only member of Cabinet to have this information. Helen Clark must front up and tell us if she knew, how long she has known and how long she intended to sit on the information for.

“It seems unlikely that the public would have ever been told about this if not for the work of an investigative journalist.

“Victims of Agent Orange who fought for years to be acknowledged will be devastated to learn that this Government has been more concerned with covering its own tracks than recognising the health concerns of veterans and their children,” says Mr Brownlee.

© Scoop Media