The government has given approval for New Zealand Defence Force personnel based at Taji, Iraq, to offer training to Iraqi Security Forces at Al Taqaddum Air Base, west of Baghdad.

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says the approval is for about five NZDF personnel to help deliver a training programme to Iraqi Security Forces for short periods of about two weeks.

“We want to keep contributing to the training of Iraqi Security Forces as they combat Daesh and return stability to Iraq,” Mr Brownlee says.

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee leaves today to attend the Counter-Daesh Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Paris.

The meeting is being hosted by French Minister of Defence Jean-Yves Le Drian and United States Defence Secretary Ashton Carter on October 25.

“As we have seen recently, Daesh continues to pose a significant threat not only to the citizens of Iraq and Syria but also the wider world,” Mr Brownlee says.

Cabinet has today agreed to deploy an additional 35 New Zealand Defence Force personnel to an international peacekeeping mission in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

“Our personnel will provide engineering support to build a security fence around the Multinational Force and Observers’ South Camp in the Sinai, near Sharm El-Sheikh,” Mr Brownlee says.

“The short-term contribution will bolster the security of the mission, which observes and reports on the Treaty of Peace between Egypt and Israel.

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee will today arrive in China to attend the 7th Xiangshan Forum in Beijing.

The annual regional security event is hosted by China and brings together defence ministers, military chiefs, senior defence officials and academics to discuss key security challenges facing the Asia Pacific and how to address them.

“New Zealand prioritises our attendance at regional security dialogues, such as the Xiangshan Forum and the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore,” Mr Brownlee says.

The number of Iraqi Security Forces personnel trained by the Australia-New Zealand Building Partner Capacity mission has passed the 12,000 mark, Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

The milestone was reached when two Iraqi Army units completed training this week.

“It’s pleasing to see a high number of trainees going through the training offered at Camp Taji in Iraq by the joint mission,” Mr Brownlee says. 

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee and Transport Minister Simon Bridges have announced the New Zealand White Ensign will fly on the Auckland Harbour Bridge to mark the founding of the Royal New Zealand Navy.

Starting on Saturday, the flag will be flown annually on 1 October. It will also fly during the International Naval Review from 17 to 22 November this year.

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee leaves today for France to attend New Zealand commemorations of the 100th anniversary of this country’s involvement in the Battle of the Somme.

More than 15,000 New Zealanders served in the Battle of the Somme in 1916, says Mr Brownlee.

“More than 2000 soldiers were killed, and thousands more wounded. More than half of the soldiers killed during the battle have no known grave.”

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee announced today that the New Zealand Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment will receive new high mobility specialist vehicles to replace its old Pinzgauer fleet. 

In 2015 Cabinet approved funding of $28 million to replace the existing Pinzgauer Special Operations fleet with four different types of vehicles to ensure the Special Forces can continue to meet all their operational requirements.  

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has welcomed the appointment of a New Zealand Army Brigadier to a senior role in the counter-Daesh Coalition.

The Brigadier will take up the role of Deputy Commanding General of the Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command, Operation Inherent Resolve, for a nine-month period from November.

“The role is based in Baghdad, and while the NZDF has a small number of other roles at Coalition headquarters in the region, this will be the most senior position a New Zealand officer has held in the organisation,” Mr Brownlee says.

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says the Government has approved a Ministry of Defence and New Zealand Defence Force recommendation to request tenders for a new naval ship to support littoral operations.

The announcement follows last month’s awarding of a $493 million contract to deliver a new naval tanker.

The Littoral Operations Support Capability will provide a platform for Royal New Zealand Navy hydrography, deep diving and mine countermeasures activities.

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee today welcomed the signing of a contract to upgrade the Royal New Zealand Air Force Underwater, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance capability on our six Orion aircraft with Boeing for a total of $36 million. 

Mr Brownlee says having an underwater surveillance capability deters interference with the sea lines of communication that New Zealand and many of its friends rely on for trade purposes. 

“Knowing what is happening underwater is integral to monitoring submarine activity,” Mr Brownlee says.

Approval has been given for a $1.7 billion rejuvenation of Defence buildings, infrastructure and facilities, Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has announced.

“Work on the 81,000 hectare Defence estate is needed to make it fit for purpose and operating as efficiently and effectively as possible,” Mr Brownlee says.

“This is not only a big deal for the Defence Force, but represents significant economic stimulus across a number of regions over the next 15 years.

“Many of the 5000 buildings on defence land are old and need to be modernised.

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee leaves Washington today to visit Honolulu, where he will meet with Admiral Harry Harris, Commander United States Pacific Command.

As part of his visit Mr Brownlee will be spending time with New Zealand Defence personnel, as well as visiting New Zealand ships and aircraft participating in the international maritime exercise, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC).

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says two New Zealand General Service Medals have been instituted to recognise service in Iraq and the greater Middle East since 2014.

The New Zealand General Service Medal 2002 (Iraq 2015) recognises service in building the capacity of the Iraqi Security Forces.  The medal will be awarded to NZDF personnel who deploy on this training mission.

Around 100 NZDF personnel and some 300 Australian Defence Force troops have formed a joint training mission at Camp Taji, Iraq.

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee leaves today to attend the Counter-Daesh Defence Ministers’ Meeting being hosted by US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter in Washington on 20 July.

He will also represent New Zealand at the Counter Daesh Foreign Ministers’ Meeting being hosted by US Secretary of State John Kerry, also in Washington, on 21 July.

“As we have seen recently, Daesh continues to pose a significant threat not only to the citizens of Iraq and Syria but also the wider world,” Mr Brownlee says.

The Government has approved the purchase of a new naval tanker for the New Zealand Defence Force which will be ice-strengthened and winterised for operations in Antarctica, Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

The project will cost $493 million and will support a full range of NZDF deployments, including maritime sustainment and humanitarian and disaster relief operations.

The vessel will be built by South Korean firm Hyundai Heavy Industries and is expected to be delivered in 2020.

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee and Foreign Minister Murray McCully today announced that this year’s Tropic Twilight Exercise will be conducted in Tonga’s Ha’apai group of islands.

“Tropic Twilight is an annual exercise in the Pacific which tests the readiness of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) to work with the military and governments from around the region on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief,” Mr Brownlee says.

The New Zealand Defence Force’s (NZDF) commitment of trainers to the Afghan National Army Officer Academy has been extended to June 2018, Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

“Since late 2013 the NZDF has contributed eight personnel to the academy to assist in building the capacity of the Afghan National Army.

“In addition to the extension, Cabinet has agreed to a request for the number of personnel deployed to be increased to 10.

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says Cabinet has today agreed to extend New Zealand’s contribution to the joint New Zealand-Australia mission to train Iraqi Security Forces until November 2018.

Also agreed was an amendment to the mission’s mandate to allow small numbers (generally around six to eight at a time) of our training and force protection team at Taji to travel for short periods to Besmaya, a secure training location about 52 kilometres south east of Taji.

Minister of Defence Gerry Brownlee today announced the reappointment of the Chief and Vice Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force.

“The recently released White Paper foreshadows a significant period of modernisation of New Zealand’s armed forces, highlighting the need for continuity of effective leadership of the Defence Force at this time,” Mr Brownlee says.

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says he can confirm reports of an explosion this evening close to Camp Taji in northern Baghdad where 106 NZ Defence Force personnel are currently deployed.

“Open source reporting suggests the blast resulted in a number of casualties, however all New Zealand personnel at Taji are safe,” Mr Brownlee says.

“Reports from Taji are that at 5.58pm New Zealand time a car bomb was detonated close to a checkpoint outside the south-western secure perimeter of the camp.