[1] The position of Minister in charge of War Pensions was created during the First World War, with the earliest reference to that role in Hansard dated at June 1916 although it is unknown exactly when the first appointment was made.

Most subsequent war pensions ministers were also concurrently appointed as defence minister; the only exceptions were Arthur Kinsella, Michael Cullen, Roger Sowry and Don McKinnon.

This followed the passage of the Veterans' Affairs Act 1999, which transferred responsibility for war pensions to the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF).

[2] Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand is a semi-autonomous unit within NZDF which provides administrative support to the Minister.

[1] The portfolio title was changed again to Minister for Veterans on 26 October 2017.