Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association

The Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association, best known simply as the RSA, is one of the largest voluntary support organisations in New Zealand and one of the oldest organisations providing support to veterans in the world.

Royal New Zealand
Returned and Services Association
AbbreviationRSA
Formation1916
TypeNon-governmental organisation
Legal statusCharity
Location
Region served
Worldwide
National President
Sir Wayne Shelford, KNZM, MBE
Board Chair
Maj Gen (Retd) Martyn Dunne, CNZM, QSO
Chief Executive
Marty Donoghue
Main organ
Board, Presidents' Forum
AffiliationsRoyal Commonwealth Ex-Services League (RCEL) Union Nationale des Combattants (UNC)
Websitewww.rsa.org.nz

With Remembrance, Support and Advocacy at its core, today the RSA supports not only returned servicepersons, but all New Zealand's veterans of military service and their family.

Soldiers returning from the Gallipoli Campaign founded the organisation in 1916 with the aim of serving the interests of returned soldiers and all war dependents, concentrating on the rehabilitation of returned soldiers into society.[1] It received royal patronage in 1920 and has had the reigning monarch as its Patron since 1936.[1] The RNZRSA celebrated its 100th Anniversary in 2016.[2]

The Flanders poppy distributed by the RSA throughout New Zealand to raise money for the health and well-being of all service personnel and their families.

The RSA is a registered charity and raises funds to support veterans of military service through donations. The annual Poppy Day street appeal is iconic and sees hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders exchange a donation for a red poppy. Poppy Day is traditionally observed on the Friday before ANZAC Day (25 April), New Zealand's National Day of Commemoration.

The RSA strongly believes that Remembrance is an important part of supporting today’s serving Military Personnel. By remembering the hardships, the sacrifice and the gallant deeds of yesterday’s soldiers, we recognize the value New Zealand places on those who serve and renew our commitment to support the service personnel of today. On ANZAC Day and on other special anniversaries, the RSA plays a significant part in ceremonies of remembrance through the network of 189 local RSAs throughout New Zealand.

References
  1. Clarke, Stephen (2016). After the War. New Zealand: Penguin Random House. ISBN 978-0-14-357405-7.
  2. Taylor, Kevin (13 July 2005). "2006 declared Veterans Year". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
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