NZDF buys Mark-endorsed book but says it’s ‘terrible’
Colonel says minister should be more careful about the publications he publicly backs
Abook with a foreword written by NZ First’s Ron Mark was described as “terrible” by a Defence Force expert reviewer yet the NZDF bought 10 copies for “strategic” reasons after the politician became Minister of Defence.
There are now 10 copies of The Good News About PTSD in NZDF libraries even though expert personnel reviewing it said Mark needed to be “more careful about endorsing books”.
Inquiries by the Herald revealed claims the author, Dion Jensen, was jettisoned from a veteran support group after concerns over his advocacy for the book and its techniques.
Jensen launched the book with Mark’s help in 2016, saying the politician “put his reputation on the line to launch the book in Parliament”.
Mark’s foreword says: “Too often we try to resolve a problem by bringing in specialists who operators don’t understand or relate to and (vice versa).”
He said the book should be read by anyone serving in uniform, clinicians who struggled to connect with them and politicians responsible for service personnel. That contrasts with a statement the NZDF prepared in November 2016 in case it was contacted for comment on the book.
In documents released through the Official Information Act, the statement said NZDF had refused to endorse the book which “may be useful” for some people with PTSD. However, “NZDF felt Mr Jensen was advocating approaches that sit at odds with positions NZDF considers appropriate”.
“For example, Mr Jensen promotes self-help, and in places in the book is sceptical of the value of people reaching out to mental health practitioners. By contrast, the NZDF recommends to its people that if they are struggling with issues to seek professional help as early as possible.”
While the NZDF’s holding statement said the book would be included in material available to personnel, it did not buy it for another 13 months — until after Mark was the minister.
In an email to NZDF, Jensen highlighted Mark’s foreword for the second edition. A colonel in the Defence Health Directorate told Jensen the NZDF would buy “a few books” for its library. In a follow-up internal email when Mark was minister, the colonel said “in light of recent events” a “copy of the book” would be bought.
“Good idea,” responded another service member, noting the book had just been mentioned by Mark in a speech to the RSA.
Meanwhile, Jensen continued writing to Mark as new Minister of Defence with emails calling him “uncle”. In an email on November 3, Jensen sent Mark a supportive letter from a psychologist. He told Mark: “It will give you a lot of ammunition.”
He sent Mark 10 autographed copies in mid-November. Mark has confirmed he provided the books to “senior defence leaders” to show “some of the work” he had been involved in previously.
The NZDF finally bought its own 10 copies for about $500 on November 30, 13 months after it said it would.
A copy of the internal library newsletter was sent in February to the colonel who had dealt with Jensen.
The colonel said he was “very familiar” with the book, adding: “The foreword is written by our new minister . . . knew we would get increased pressure from [Jensen] (which we have) hence strategic purchase of copies for the library (albeit a terrible book and Ron Mark should be more careful about endorsing books).”
A spokesman for the NZDF said the colonel was not criticising the book’s advice when calling it “terrible”.
“It is the personal opinion of the colonel that the book continues to contain a number of grammatical errors and structural issues that detract from the readability of the book.”
The reference to it being a “strategic” purchase did not reflect Mark’s recent appointment but NZDF’s desire to provide tools that could “increase mental health literacy and awareness, enhance resilience, and promote effective rehabilitation and recovery”.
Mark said PTSD was a subject “dear to my heart” and he had written the foreword “thinking of friends of mine suffering PTSD”.
Asked if the NZDF did enough for veterans, Mark said it had been “slow to respond” to issues affecting those who had served in Vietnam, Timor and Afghanistan but had improved.
“I believe their systems were inadequate for quite some time and I was vocal about it when in opposition.”
He saw “nothing wrong” with the book being called terrible: “I understand the colonel was referring to the writing style and spelling and grammar.”
Jensen did not return Herald requests for an interview or emailed questions. Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May meets key MPs today as she scrambles to sort out the Tories’ Brexit policy. Hundreds of public servants are due to strike at lunchtime. Follow us for updates. Mike Hosking Breakfast
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