Labour and National governments have unsuccessfully tried to get Japan to join us in Bamyan province, documents show.

New Zealand's anti-nuclear legislation was influenced by wanting to cut defence costs as well as by ideology, a WikiLeaks-released cable between Wellington and Washington claims.

US intelligence agencies have given a pessimistic account of military progress in Afghanistan.

Defence Minister Wayne Mapp has announced his intention to stand down at the next election.

The resumption of full intelligence sharing with the US was not made public as the Govt does not comment on national security, John Key says.

Labour and National Governments agreed to US demands for secrecy around improvements to the defence and intelligence relationship.

The Government is being asked to step in and make sure ANZAC Day poppies stay New Zealand-made.

Anzac Day Poppies will be made offshore, New Zealand's Returned Service Association has announced.

The Navy's newest ship, the fault-prone HMNZS Otago, is once again being forced to return to port.

The mother of a NZ soldier shot in Afghanistan told an emotional press conference today that if her son "wanted something, he did it", describing John Howard as a man "never prepared to accept less than the best."

The death of a New Zealander serving in the British Army in Afghanistan is "very sad", Prime Minister John Key says. The soldier is understood to be John "Jack" Howard.

The New Zealand soldier killed in Afghanistan while serving with the British Army is understood to be John "Jack" Howard. Private Howard had been patrolling in the Nad 'Ali district of Helmand province when he was shot.

NZ troops were forced to step in for ineffective Hungarian troops in a neighbouring Afghanistan province, a leaked diplomatic cable says.

Comments made about China's dominance in Asia by Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd could prove embarrassing to Canberra.