Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott confirmed yesterday that 300 more of the Australian Defence Force would be deployed to Iraq in a non-combat training role.

Fighting began in the key central Iraqi city of Tikrit, birthplace of the former dictator Saddam Hussein, as government forces and Shia militia launched a major assault to displace Isis jihadists.

Soldiers may be excused from going to train Iraqi forces in fight against Isis, for personal reasons. The Defence Force says it is part of being a "good employer".

Every political party laid claim to the moral high ground in the argument over sending a team of army training personnel to Iraq, John Armstrong writes.

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has clipped the wings of a fledgling regional airline before it can get off the ground.

There’s been widespread sceptism and outrage in response to the Government’s announcement that New Zealand troops will be sent to Iraq, writes Bryce Edwards.

In November Prime Minister Key referred to ISIL as a ‘game changer’ for New Zealand. I wasn’t convinced, especially as the government was focusing on the domestic aspect in seeking to justify increased surveillance powers.

An officer who was criticised for his decision to not call 111 following the collapse of a soldier has stood by his actions at a coronial inquest today.

The decision to commit NZ military contingent to Iraq is a case of misguided foreign policy.

Passions over the announced deployment of a New Zealand training mission to Iraq spilled over in Parliament again yesterday.

The quality of New Zealand's training contribution to the Iraqi armed forces would be a welcome addition to the fight against Isis (Islamic State), Iraq's ambassador to New Zealand, Mouayed Saleh, said last night.

NZ soldiers training Iraqi troops near Baghdad will not be taking a "them-and-us" view of the Iraqis but a partnership approach.

The deployment of 106 Defence Force personnel to a military base in Iraq will include just 16 trainers, the New Zealand Defence Force chief confirmed yesterday.

An angry John Key has lashed out at the Opposition over its attacks over New Zealand's Iraq mission, saying “Get some guts and join the right side.”

Herald political writer John Armstrong says the PM's decision to bypass the media when announcing his decision shows he is failing.

John Key today announced that he was sending 143 NZ military personnel to Iraq to help train Iraqi forces fighting Islamic jihadists. Here is his full statement to Parliament:

New Zealand intelligence agencies could play a role in protecting trainers sent to Iraq but are unlikely to provide information to assist with drone strikes, Prime Minister John Key says.

The PM's insistence that he was referring to all of the members of the multi-national force as the "club" defies logic, writes John Armstrong.

Prime Minister John Key has all but confirmed that up to 100 New Zealand Defence Force staff will be sent to the Middle East to help Australia train Iraqi soldiers to fight Isis .

Cabinet is expected to approve sending soldiers to help Iraqi forces fight the Islamic State group when it meets tomorrow.

Winston Peters says Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee should pay $43,550 in costs for an inquiry into his 'arrogant' security breach at Christchurch Airport last year.

NZ troops are preparing to return to Iraq, a decade after Kiwi soldiers were last in the violence-wracked nation. On Monday the cabinet is expected to set the ground rules for the deployment.

Replacing ageing military equipment is often fearsomely expensive.

The film clip of Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee striding into the bowels of the $250 million Boeing C-17 Globemaster for a test drive this week was scary.

Prime Minister John Key says New Zealand is not considering an Iraq deployment to “wave its flag” or please its American allies, but to play an important role in forcing back the “reprehensible” Islamic State.

Iraq has issued a general invitation to the international community for support, the country's foreign minister says.