A Rotorua mother says an extremist Islamic militant group is tarnishing her daughter's name, but she won't be changing it.

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 headteacher of the school attended by three British schoolgirls who are believed to have flown to Turkey to join Isis in Syria reiterated yesterday that police have no evidence the missing pupils had been radicalised there.

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.

In the latest propaganda video from Islamic State, hostages are paraded in cages through the packed streets of Iraq and interviewed by their captors.

The police and intelligence agencies faced demands for an inquiry over how three young British schoolgirls were able to head for Syria.

John Key speaks on New Zealand's possible involvement in the fight against Isis.

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 .

Tanks, drones and planes joined hundreds of Turkish soldiers in a night raid into Isis-occupied Syria to evacuate the tomb of a revered Ottoman figure.

The father of one of three schoolgirls who are believed to have travelled to Syria to join Isis says her siblings "cannot stop crying".

NZ doesn't have a 'realistic option of doing nothing' in the fight against Isis, PM John Key says ahead of Cabinet's decision on whether to send troops to Iraq.

When Isis took over Raqqa, a wave of black swept over the city. It's turned into a grim prison for residents - with no escape in sight.

Three British "jihadi brides" who ran away from home to join fighters from Isis were believed to have crossed the Turkish border into Syria.

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

The public could be wise to be sceptical or wary about politicians trying to manipulate them about the global fight against ISIS, writes Bryce Edwards.

Isis has threatened to flood Europe with half a million migrants from Libya in a 'psychological' attack against the West.

At least 35 more Egyptian Christians are feared to have been kidnapped by jihadists in retaliation for air strikes on targets in Libya.

Militants from Isis have burned 45 people to death in the western Iraqi town of al-Baghdadi, according to the local police chief.

Mobile phones are banned and punishments are draconian, yet residents of Iraqi city Mosul enjoy certain benefits under Isis rule.

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.

There is no crime of war, nor crime against humanity that they have not committed, writes Alexander Gillespie. But what is NZ's risk in getting involved?

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

The Jordanian air force pilot burned to death by Isis extremists was reportedly heavily sedated and unaware what would happen.