New Zealand is "a very long long way" from committing troops to counter Islamic State and may simply provide more humanitarian aid to those affected by the conflict in Iraq and Syria, Prime Minister John Key says.
Mr Key this morning continued to insist this week's special meeting of anti- Islamic State coalition partners in Washington was simply a "regular meeting" that New Zealand's chief of Defence Force Tim Keating attends frequently.
General Keating's attendance at the meeting - which was addressed by US President Barack Obama who referred to it as a meeting of coalition members - prompted Opposition claims it was a sign Mr Key's Government had effectively committed New Zealand's military to the coalition with public or political consultation.
Asked today whether New Zealand was now part of the coalition, Mr Key said: "Technically there's been 60 countries that have been broadly identified in a sort of broader coalition of opposition to Isis and we're part of that 60 because of the humanitarian aid we've given in the past".
However, in terms of further support including troops, "'We're a very long long way from committing New Zealand to anything at this point".