The deployment of 106 Defence Force personnel to a military base in Iraq will include just 16 trainers, the New Zealand Defence Force chief confirmed yesterday.

Herald political writer John Armstrong says the PM's decision to bypass the media when announcing his decision shows he is failing.

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 .

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

Winston Peters says Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee should pay $43,550 in costs for an inquiry into his 'arrogant' security breach at Christchurch Airport last year.

NZ troops are preparing to return to Iraq, a decade after Kiwi soldiers were last in the violence-wracked nation. On Monday the cabinet is expected to set the ground rules for the deployment.

Replacing ageing military equipment is often fearsomely expensive.

A victim of a former air force sergeant convicted of abuse and rape over a 12-year period has slammed the Defence Force for its inaction.

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

Being far from his children on Christmas Day is hard for Major Brett Grieve, especially when he's stationed in Antarctica, but he knows it's all part of his duty, he says.

The Defence Minister has paid tribute to the events the Defence Force has participated in this year, including the search for missing flight MH370.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters claims "large-scale" military preparations are under way at New Zealand bases in anticipation of a deployment to Iraq.

The Prime Minister has said no directive has been given to the Defence Force from Parliament to prepare troops for deployment to Iraq.

Soldiers “fitness bombed” joggers on Auckland’s waterfront as part of a campaign to improve the fitness of those wanting to enlist.

The Government's carefully thought through approach to battling Isis at home and abroad is an extremely pragmatic and smart political strategy, writes Bryce Edwards.

John Key says he believes Isis is full of 'very bad people' and a military response is morally justified - but hasn't yet made a decision on whether NZ will fight them.

The armed forces look set to increasingly rely on drones to defend New Zealand.

A soldier faced disciplinary action after he set off a Claymore mine in a live firing exercise in Afghanistan, injuring himself and another soldier.

Air force commanders allowed a dangerous and deadly culture of rule-breaking that ultimately resulted in the deaths of three young airmen, a court has found.

A guilty plea is expected today from the NZ Defence Force over health and safety failures which led to the deaths of three men in a 2010 military helicopter crash.

The future of New Zealand peacekeeping is under increasing scrutiny as it bids for a seat on the United Nations Security Council.

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman says he can't rule out civilian deaths at the hands of foreign troops as part of a joint raid with NZ soldiers in Afghanistan.

Two inquiries have begun into the award of an $80,000 military contract after the Defence Minister was told the private company doing the work was owned and run by serving personnel.

The owner of a world-famous dog found floating on a log near Great Barrier Island this week has spoken - and this fishy dog's tale is not all it seemed.

The head of New Zealand's anti-doping agency says athletes are failing to speak out against drug cheats within their codes out of loyalty to their team mates.