Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has confirmed that legal protection has been secured for New Zealand troops to fight in Iraq against the Islamic State.

New Zealand is among the best in the world at expanding human rights, religious tolerance and peaceful dialogue, writes David Rutherford.

Modern warfare is vastly different today. Those going to Iraq will not be in the frontline - at least not yet, Fran O'Sullivan writes.

An army bombardier, decorated for acts of bravery, has fallen from grace being sentenced yesterday for offences including indecent assault.

A non-commissioned officer in the New Zealand Defence Force has been found guilty of indecent assault.

An army recruit felt pressured to perform sexual acts with an instructor as a way of helping her platoon, a court martial has heard today.

The announcement that 150 NZ Defence Force personnel will begin pre-deployment training for Iraq at Linton and Waiouru military camps has been condemned.

New Zealand troops have been given the go-ahead to begin training for a likely deployment to Iraq.

A member of the army who has accused a more senior non-commissioned officer of offences against her testified at a court martial.

"If it wasn't for the defibrillator mum wouldn't be here." When Natalia Shaw watched firefighters save her mum's life, she was inspired into training as a medic for the NZ Army.

An army sergeant has been found guilty of a charge of failing to comply with written orders, following the death of a soldier during a training exercise.

A not guilty verdict brought on tears from all sides in the Whanganui District Court as the trial ended for two soldiers accused of sexually violating a woman in a Unimog.

The jury is out for the trial of two soldiers accused of sexually violating a woman by intimidating her into having a threesome in a Unimog.

Soldier accused of intimidating a woman into having a threesome says the sex was consensual and he walked her home afterwards.

Tears and broad smiles were everywhere as naval families were reunited today after three long months at sea.

New Zealand defence personnel are on their way home after the world's largest military exercise in Hawaii.

Willie Apiata has moved on from his job helping at-risk youth - and is now being handled by Richie McCaw's management team.

A whistleblower alleges that as the war in Afghanistan reached its deadly zenith, Kiwi forces were asked to use booby-trapped mines to combat insurgents.

A senior Army officer is expected to face disciplinary action after he wrongly signed off approval for soldiers to fire live bullets in training exercises.

Some of the most fearless warriors in military history have been taking part in a biennial exercise with the NZ Army in the South Island.

A Singapore-based Kiwi couple were among 950 NZers selected from a ballot to attend the 100th anniversary of the Anzac landing in Gallipoli next year.

Six Afghan interpreters who worked alongside Victoria Cross holder Willie Apiata and other New Zealand SAS soldiers will be resettled in New Zealand.

A former SAS soldier has been kicked out of the Defence Force today and jailed for four months after conning Army bosses into paying for a weekend away with his wife.

Military chiefs have admitted they do not have a "well-developed" understanding of combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder.

The family of dead soldier Rory Malone claim the Defence Force have treated them like 'second-class' citizens and the insensitive handling of his funeral arrangements caused them unnecessary stress.

Major-General Tim Keating has been named the new Chief of Defence Force.