Australians have paid tribute to three RNZAF personnel who died in a helicopter crash on Anzac Day.

An Air Force crewman ran 2km through rugged uphill terrain to get to the helicopter wreck that contained the bodies of three colleagues.

The helicopter that crashed into a hill near Pukerua Bay was part of an ageing fleet that will be replaced by 2013.

Prime Minister John Key is cancelling a planned 10-day trip to the Middle East in order to attend the funerals of three Air Force personnel who died today.

Anzac Day commemorations have been hit by tragedy following this morning's fatal Air Force crash.

Today's helicopter crash happened almost 38 years to the day after the Air Force's only other fatal Iroquois chopper accident.

Three people are confirmed dead after an Air Force Iroquois helicopter crashed north of Wellington this morning, says the Defence Minister.

Police yesterday sealed off a suburban Auckland street after a woman barricaded herself in her home and threatened to release nerve gas.

Another Anzac Day remembered (this is the 95th anniversary) and another clutch of books with military themes have appeared...

Corporal Apiata, who had been serving with the SAS in Afghanistan, touched down at Auckland International Airport at 5.15am yesterday.