WELLINGTON, May 23 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Defense Minister Ron Mark on Wednesday launched the country's first ever over-arching strategy for rehabilitating veterans who have been injured or become ill through their service to their country.

The strategy has been developed by Veterans' Affairs in consultation with veteran support groups, government departments and non-government agencies.

"The emphasis is on helping people to recover, rather than just marking their service with pensions," Mark said in a statement.

The strategy considers health in its widest sense, to provide whatever is most needed to get veterans back to their best -- physical, psychological, social or vocational rehabilitation.

The strategy focuses on the needs and views of veterans, when deciding what rehabilitation is likely to work best for them, Mark said, adding those whose health has been affected by their service to New Zealand are being offered more than basic physical rehabilitation.

"Post-traumatic stress injuries might not be as visible as physical injuries, but they're very real and very disabling," the minister said.