Ben Peckham is ngā moutere o te Moananui-a-Kiwa (Logana, Bua, Fiji Islands; Mavana, Vanua Balavu, Fiji Islands)

“Ben has been... working hard, alongside other injured veterans, to raise awareness and highlight the experiences of their NZDF brothers and sisters’ post-service. I sincerely hope this improves the care and support for NZ veterans in the years ahead.”

This quote was part of an email that Ben Peckham’s partner Tanya forwarded to me in July 2022. Ben served in the New Zealand Territorials from 1990. He transferred to the New Zealand Army in 1992, and served as a Peacekeeper in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1994-1995. This experience had a major impact on his life and his mental health. He has spent the past decade sharing his story so that other veterans can get the support they need.

We are humbled to be able to share Ben’s story. We would also like to acknoweldge Ben’s involvement in The Veteran, Family and Whānau Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy Framework that was launched by Veterans’ Affairs in June 2022.

Pre-service

Benjamin G. W. Peckham was born and raised in Labasa Town on Vanua Levu Island, Fiji. His family land is the Logana Estate in Bua Province. Logana Estate goes back to his great great grandfather, one of the early European settlers in the region.

Ben’s family has an extended military history. His granduncle Edwin Hughes, who enlisted under the family name Hughes, served in the Maori Pioneer Battalion during the First World War. While his father, Staff Sergeant Sam Peckham, served in the Fijian Infantry Territorial Force during the 1970s and 1980s. Completing three deployments to Lebanon and one to Sinai. In 1978 Sam became part of Fiji’s original international Peacekeeping deployment. Fiji was the first Battalion to go through to serve in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and he was in the first plane over to the Middle East since the Six-Day War.

His father’s deployments, each lasting a year, and his mother, Sagale Buadromo’s busy career, as a nurse educator, shaped his childhood. Ben and his sister Samantha both attended boarding schools in Viti Levu due in part to their father’s military service and their mother's role as Matron of the local hospital and Senior Tutor of the Northern Division.

In 1988, Ben moved to New Zealand with his family and his older brother joined them a decade later. The family moved to Whakatane to live near his Aunty and then later to Tauranga. “It was a pretty big culture shock…I had never watched a TV before coming to New Zealand.”

Territorial and Regular Forces

After leaving school Ben worked in a range of jobs while serving in the Territorial Force from 1990-1992 (6^th Battalion (Hauraki) Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment). In 1992, after two years in the Territorials, Ben transferred as a Private to the 1RNZIR, Whiskey Company.

Ben was quick to acknowledge the previous generations of soldiers who had trained and supported him and his comrades.

“I want to give credit to the soldiers before us that put us in good stead to operate really well on the international stage. I think that carried on to other [later] deployments...”

As his father had been on Fiji’s first Peacekeeping deployment so too was Ben as part of New Zealand’s very first deployment to Bosnia. A parallel experience of firsts that Ben has only recently connected.

“Some people would say that Peacekeeping is not real soldiering…but you are still in an area where there is a potential for it to kick off and if you are caught in the middle or people decide to turn on you, therein lies the danger. People don’t really appreciate the role of peacekeepers, ‘cos they do put themselves in potential harm by the very nature of wearing the Blue Beret. [You are] in the middle of these two factions that are potentially going to at any time possibly go off. And then you are meant to walk the line. But you also have rules of engagement...you can defend yourself, but you can’t open things up willy-nilly. It is a very disciplined way of doing it. It is like policing on what was a battlefield.”

Post-service

Ben left the Army in 1997, after serving five and a half years. He them embarked on an extended OE in England until 2002 when he returned to Auckland.

During the 2000s Ben worked a diverse number of roles including time as a Senior Security Specialist for a mining company in Western Tanzania, on the border with Burundi and Rwanda. He reflects he had to use a lot of the skills he had developed during his time in the Army.

Ben also studied for his Graduate Diploma in Psychosocial studies from Auckland University of Technology. This study would later help inform his veteran support work.

Throughout the 2010s Ben started to experience some significant mental health challenges. He discovered that had not been immune to the military’s infamous “lad’s culture" explaining that it “fed into people not reaching out, not feeling confident enough to use the [support] avenues…because there is a culture that has been bred in there to not seek help, to knuckle down and do it.”  He was later diagnosed with service-related post-traumatic stress disorder and bi-polar disorder.

When discussing this complex time Ben said he started to think about how he wanted to spend the rest of his life.

“Do I want to leave a good impression for my sons…The mental space of being a soldier will never leave you, it is always in there, and that’s where the struggle happens, to assimilate back to what you were [prior to enlistment]. At the end of the day soldiers are brought from within the community they then go back into the community. [However] long the period of service maybe… [service personnel] still bring their experience of putting on the uniform.”

In 2014 he reached out to No Duff, a non-governmental organisation that provides veterans’ support. Aaron Wood, its founder, had previously served in the Reconnaissance Platoon 1RNZIR.  He also received help from Staff Sergeant Tina Grant (DSD) who works as the New Zealand Army’s liaison for families that have lost family whilst in the service of the New Zealand Defence Force. He has trained with Tina’s partner Corporal Douglas Grant. Tina was able to link him to different services provided by Veterans’ Affairs.

"I went through a dark period in my life which took a lot of commitment from myself and really close family to work through (thank you to the Veteran Support Service…and other Veteran non-governmental organisations). I am able to dedicate time and energy to support others.

I have…spent time broadening my experiences within the Veteran Support space, which includes voluntary work with Returned and Services Association, Ranfurly Trust and Veterans’ Affairs."

As part of his programme of rehabilitation and self-care, Ben represented the New Zealand Defence Force in the 2018 Invictus Games Sydney.

UPDATE: Ben was selected by the Invictus Games Foundation to participate in the Triathlon 70.3 (Half Ironman) held in Melbourne in November 2024. This formed part of a pilot programme across 10 sports, with the intention to expand to the wider veteran community if successful. He subsequently completed a Full Ironman in May 2025.

Veteran support and advocacy

In 2018 the New Zealand Government published the He ara oranga : report of the Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction that included a few brief paragraphs on Veterans. “No information is routinely collected about the mental health of New Zealand veterans. However, the incidence of mental health issues and substance misuse among New Zealand veterans appears to be high.”^[1]

It wasn’t until 2021 that Veterans’ Affairs began to address the issues highlighted in this report. During that year Ben was asked to be involved in a roundtable to create a mental health policy framework for the Veteran community. The first of its kind for New Zealand. The group consisted of member of the New Zealand Defence Force, representatives from mental health organisations, veteran advocacy groups, health practitioners, and veterans. Ben was humbled to be included in this group of individuals. After a year of hard work Te Arataki mō te Hauora Ngākau mō ngā Mōrehu a Tū me ō rātou Whānau, The Veteran, Family and Whānau Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy Framework was launched by Veterans’ Affairs in June of 2022.

Overall, the document highlights “the need for system improvements, increased awareness, effective prevention, and enhanced support.”^[2] Ben was particularly proud of the framework’s increased visibility and support provided to LGBTIQ+, Women, Māori and Pacific Island veterans. He feels the New Zealand Defence Force is no longer as insulated from responding to the changing world especially when it comes to mental health. Ben believes that “for me counseling is part of life, talking to each other is part of life” and is excited that the Defence Force is getting better at acknowledging this.

He also emphasises the importance of creating mentally and physically resilient and adaptable veterans. With the framework helping to work towards creating a balance between service personnel, being mentally tough and emotionally grounded.

He is hopeful that the issues identified in Te Arataki will make its way into proper policy over the coming years. Suggesting that the next phase involves connecting the different government agencies to provide a clear channel for veterans to receive consistent support.

Watch the short film that helped launched the framework, including Ben and his matavuvale (whānau).

Coming home - Veterans Affairs from The Bakery Collective on Vimeo.

Reaching out

Ben is a father of two sons, Sekonia Hubber-Peckham from an earlier relationship and Oliver Peckham with his current partner Tanya Knighton. He now spends his life being a house husband, caring for his son and family. He also looks after four beehives, a passion he discovered after attending a farming initiative for ex-service personnel. Ben has also developed an interest in horse riding which enriches his life.

2024 Updates:

Stamping his mark

The series, which also features Rebecca Brierton, Vance Leach, Ange Coyle, Kelley Waite, and David Bennett, offers a special opportunity for New Zealanders to connect with the stories of modern veterans. These individuals, though living ordinary lives, performed extraordinary service under difficult circumstances. Ben’s story, from his deployments in Bosnia to his tireless advocacy for veterans’ mental health, speaks to his dedication to both his country and his community.

If you’d like to learn more about the veterans featured in this series, visit Veterans Affairs Stamps. Stamps and First Day Covers are available through NZ Post, offering a meaningful way to support and celebrate those who have served in dangerous places on behalf of New Zealand.

Ben at the Invictus Games

These new goals are yet another example of Ben’s ongoing commitment to both his physical and mental resilience, inspiring others through his journey of recovery and strength.

Volunteering

In addition, Ben begun volunteer involvement with a group called WILD HORSES NZ. His key role is mentoring, enabling him to do outreach work with Youth through facilitating positive horsemanship experiences. Currently the East Coast is the focus, but the organisation hopes that they will eventually connect with more Youth in different regions across New Zealand.

If you are a current or ex-service person and you need support please reach out to Veterans’ Affairs or weserved.nz

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