The Defence bomb squad has now taken away for further examination the live grenade found at the International Mail Centre at Auckland Airport this evening.

NZ's most famous UFO sighting was a moving cluster of bright lights five times the size of a large fishing vessel that dazzled and spooked the occupants of a small plane, files released today reveal.

The body of New Zealander Private Jack Howard was carried into St Paul's Cathedral in Wellington today by his British Army comrades and farewelled after the funeral by a three-volley salute from NZ soldiers he served with.

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

Labour leader Phil Goff has hit back at claims made in a diplomatic cable between Wellington and Washington that NZ's anti-nuclear legislation was influenced by wanting to cut defence costs as well as by ideology.

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.

No diplomatic cables have been released so far which would be as embarrassing for NZ as for Australia.