The family members of NZ Defence Force personnel who died during service decades ago overseas have said having them home is "beyond their wildest dreams".
Family have travelled from overseas and around New Zealand to Ohakea Air Force base where the remains of three men arrived back in New Zealand today in a Hercules aircraft.
For Russell Beban, he's ecstatic to be reunited with his father, Flight Lieutenant George Beben, who died at 40 in Fiji from natural causes, when Russell was five years old.
It's been 62 years since he died.
Families travelled from overseas and around NZ to be present as the remains of three repatriated NZDF personnel arrived today. (Source: Other)
The government extended a policy change from the last government in late March this year, to offer all personnel buried overseas since January 1955 to be repatriated if their family agreed to it, regardless of their location.
Before 1971, NZDF personnel were not repatriated as a government cost if they died during service.
From 1955 until 1971, the remains of personnel could only be returned home if the family paid for the cost.
Minister for Veterans Ron Mark said this move is something that should have happened a long time ago and it's about fixing the inequity that was caused by a past decision.
"It's the right thing to do," he said.
Colleen Walker said it's closure to have her brother Russell Moore home.
She was nine years old when she found out her brother had died during an accident on a navy ship in American Samoa.
She never thought "in her wildest dreams" his remains would return home.
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