New Zealand's Governor-General Lieutenant General Sir Jerry Mateparae and Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman were among a group of dignitaries who met Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul.

A New Zealand Army officer charged with beating a fellow soldier has appeared before a court martial this morning at Linton Army Camp.

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman rejected suggestions the non-combat deaths of defence force personnel were linked to low morale.

Some family members of Corporal Douglas Hughes say they want an open inquest to satisfy their questions over the soldier's death.

The coroner who declined a full inquest into the suicide of a gay soldier is a Mormon church elder who attacked same-sex marriage in a submission to Parliament, saying it was an unnecessary "social experiment".

The New Zealand navy is relying on Australian sailors to keep it afloat as skilled crew leave in droves for higher-paid jobs across the Tasman.

The Defence Ministry is about to begin seeking tenders for new training aircraft for the Air Force.

A report says an illegal error by the Air Force seriously endangered the lives of all on board an Air New Zealand international flight.

Official figures show Afghanistan most hazardous overseas posting for personnel.

The Kiwi who witnessed the Charlottesville attack has seen terror first-hand before.