The New Zealand Defence Force and Ministry of Defence must now find a new headquarters for hundreds of staff.

Singapore is eying Ohakea air base in Manawatu as a potential base for one of its own Air Force squadrons of F15 fighter jets.

Airbus is making a play to replace NZ's ageing Hercules by showing off its big military airlifter this week in a bid to woo the public and Defence chiefs.

People, including Defence Force firefighters, and equipment is being deployed to help contain the wildfires.

Our next military transport could be built by Kawasaki. And the aircraft which patrol our maritime borders could come off the same factory line.

Details of the construction of the top secret spy base at Tangimoana were filed with Archives New Zealand with no security rating.

The new State Services Commissioner was once one of the highest paid public servants but is now promising a "conservative approach" to pay rises for chief executives.

Govt says a public message about unusual seismic activity under the North Island was not a cause for alarm.

COMMENT: Three major shakes in South Island in the last six years, have highlighted how the enemy we are most likely to have to front is the one within.

Questions are being asked about why key government buildings in Wellington have been impacted so badly, as concerns about more buildings emerge.

Replacing the Anzac frigates is likely to be the most challenging capability choice facing future Governments, says Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee.

The Government is being urged to fund an around-the-clock monitoring and warning system for earthquakes and tsunamis in New Zealand.

The change means aftershocks may be larger in magnitude for a longer period of time.

New aerial photos show there is much work to be done after Monday's 7.8 quake.

Acting Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says the cost of the earthquakes was still to emerge, but it would be in the billions of dollars.

The Clarence River has burst its banks, with residents being told to move to high ground immediately, as aftershocks continue to rock the country.

There are casualties following this morning's quakes, acting Civil Defence minister Gerry Brownlee says.

A French memorial will be added to the War Memorial Park in Wellington after a winning design was chosen from 43 entries.

Prime Minister John Key has told an RSA national council meeting that the Government has listened to criticism over its policy not to repatriate the bodies of some soldiers killed overseas.

Up to 100 New Zealand soldiers' bodies could be brought home from overseas, after the Government confirmed it was reviewing its policy on repatriation.

The Government is to buy a $493 million naval tanker which will be custom-made for use in the Antarctic.

Prime Minister John Key has done so many u-turns this week he is in danger of coming to the attention of his boyracer-car-crushing minister Judith Collins.

US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter has thanked the New Zealand Government for agreeing to extend its deployment to Iraq

COMMENT: For those who travelled to Taji with PM, his decision to extend the deployment of 120 troops to train Iraqi forces had a sense of inevitability.

Labour leader Andrew Little says he will withdraw New Zealand troops from Iraq if his party is elected to power next year.

The non-combat deployment in the battle against the Islamic State had been set to finish early next year, but would now last until November 2018.

Prime Minister John Key says he remains confident New Zealand troops based at Taji are as safe as they can be despite a car bomb outside the military compound yesterday.

An explosion has occurred within two to three kilometres of Camp Taji in northern Baghdad where 106 NZ Defence Force personnel are currently deployed.

Explosions rang out as the New Zealand Defence Force's new $46 million battle training facility was opened in Auckland this morning.