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.

The Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration Gerry Brownlee has welcomed the first step towards deciding the future use of Christchurch’s residential red zones.

Regenerate Christchurch has announced the first Outline for a Regeneration Plan it will develop, which will be for the section of the Otakaro/Avon River corridor from Barbadoes St to Stanmore Rd.

“I’m looking forward to receiving the first of several Outlines for Regeneration Plans put forward by Regenerate Christchurch.

The Minister Responsible for the Earthquake Commission Gerry Brownlee says outgoing chief executive Ian Simpson should be commended for his leadership during unprecedented times in the nation’s history.

Ian Simpson is leaving EQC at the end of the year to take up the role of chief executive with GNS Science.

“I first spoke to Ian on September 5 2010 following the September 4 2010 earthquake.

“Since that time, he has superintended one of the biggest insurance company responses to any natural disaster anywhere in the world.

The Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration Gerry Brownlee says the latest spending figures from Statistics New Zealand are further proof of the city’s ongoing recovery success.

Statistics New Zealand has today released its Christchurch Retail Trade Indicator for the June 2016 quarter.

It shows the total retail and hospitality spending rose 2 per cent and, in actual terms, was $1.9 billion for the quarter, up 4.8 per cent from the same quarter last year.

Leader of The House Gerry Brownlee says New Zealand First’s eleventh-hour withdrawal of support for Treaty of Waitangi settlement bills is small-minded and petulant.

Parliament’s Business Committee had agreed to an extended session in the House on Friday for the final reading of five settlement bills, which would have been of huge significance to iwi around the country.

“Because all five bills had unanimous support of the House at the select committee stage, the Friday sitting was possible because they would have passed on voice votes alone.

Leader of the House Gerry Brownlee and Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson say appalling behaviour by New Zealand First will unfortunately delay the passing of five Treaty of Waitangi settlement bills this week.

“We are deeply disappointed for iwi members from Taranaki, Manawatu and the Far North,” Mr Brownlee says.

“Thanks to the constructive work and initial unanimous support of the Business Committee, and after much planning, Friday was to be an historic day of Treaty settlements.

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.”

Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration Gerry Brownlee has announced a line-up of key international leaders in disaster recovery and preparedness for a symposium sharing lessons from the Canterbury earthquake recovery.

The Learn, Prepare, Act Symposium to be held in Christchurch in February next year will present the recovery experiences and lessons learned across many different sectors, including community organisations, government and non-government agencies.

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.

Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration Gerry Brownlee is encouraging people to have a say on a draft plan for the future use of the residential red zones in Canterbury’s Waimakariri District.

“I have received the Draft Waimakariri Residential Red Zone Recovery Plan from the Waimakariri District Council, and I thank the Council for its work in producing this comprehensive document,” Mr Brownlee says.

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.

A Working Group is considering options for the reinstatement of the Christ Church Cathedral and will, once a consensus has been reached, recommend the best way forward, Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration Gerry Brownlee says.

“On 14 June I, in conjunction with Bishop Victoria Matthews, appointed a Working Group to consider options for the reinstatement of the Christ Church Cathedral,” Mr Brownlee says.

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.