Massive earthquake damage in Christchurch means Kirifi Mila, the New Zealand soldier killed in Afghanistan last week, will be buried in Hamilton without a formal military farewell from his army mates.

The family of an NZ soldier killed in an accident in Afghanistan this week say he was the "Einstein of the family" and will be sorely missed.

Defence Minister Wayne Mapp says NZ troops making progress in a dangerous area of Afghanistan.

The body of Private Kirifi Mila, killed in a road accident in Afghanistan, has begun its journey home to New Zealand after being farewelled from Kiwi Base overnight.

The body of Private Kirifi Mila, killed in a motor accident while serving in Afghanistan on Tuesday, is expected to return to New Zealand next week, the Defence Force says.

The death of a soldier in Afghanistan is at least the ninth time in 12 years a NZ soldier has been killed in a vehicle accident.

The New Zealand solider killed in a vehicle crash in Afghanistan has been named. The Defence Force said he was a popular member of his unit and well known as a 'colourful character'.

New Zealand and Australian defence heads deny forces are hindering progress in Afghanistan.

Senior Australian MPs from opposite sides of politics have defended Opposition Leader Tony Abbott following edited television footage of him apparently describing the death of an Australian soldier as "shit happens".

Paul Torday produces an intriguing page-turner that won't fail to surprise.

Mass haka, Maori culture-infused church services and helpings of roast lamb and kumara are among the ways expat Kiwis will be remembering home this Waitangi Day.

An Australian digger has been killed in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb.

John Key says he is confident security for the Rugby World Cup will not be compromised by extending the deployment of the SAS in Afghanistan.

Prime Minister John Key has confirmed the New Zealand Special Air Service (SAS) deployment to Afghanistan will be extended for another year from April - but it will be around half the size of the current deployment.

The godfather of the Taleban, one of Pakistan's most prominent retired spies, has died of a heart attack in the wilds of Waziristan while held captive by Islamist militants he helped spawn.

NZ SAS soldiers fired weapons in self-defence when they killed two security guards in Afghanistan on Christmas Eve, an investigation by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force and the NZ Defence Force has found.

A former Australian soldier has been sentenced to 20 years in jail in Afghanistan for murdering a colleague.

Major General Lou Gardiner, the Chief of Army for three years until he retired last year after 39 years service, said he would back what the SAS troops said over anyone else.

The Defence Force insists that New Zealand SAS troops in Afghanistan involved in a fatal shootout were fired upon first.

The NZ Defence Force says SAS soldiers were acting in self defence when they led a raid on a factory in Afghanistan in which two soldiers were killed.

New Zealand soldiers have been accused of being involved in a botched raid on a factory in Afghanistan which left two workers dead.