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New Zealand will maintain its current level of support for international efforts in Afghanistan until December 2014, the Government says.

Twenty seven New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel are currently deployed in behind-the-wire roles based in Kabul, including at the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) headquarters, ISAF Special Operations Forces headquarters, and Afghan National Army Officer Academy (ANAOA).

Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman, New Zealand’s Minister of Defence and his Australian counterpart, Senator David Johnston, met today in Auckland for the annual Australia-New Zealand Defence Ministers’ meeting.

Both Ministers reiterated the importance and mutual benefit of a close bilateral defence partnership.  Senator Johnston was pleased to affirm the new Government’s strong commitment to this close bond.

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman is holding bilateral talks with his Australian counterpart, Senator David Johnston in Auckland today.

“New Zealand has a strong defence relationship with Australia, and I look forward to working closely with Senator Johnston,” says Dr Coleman.

“As part of our bilateral meeting, we will be discussing the current security issues in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as identifying areas where New Zealand and Australia can further develop our practical defence co-operation.

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman says the Government will not be paying further compensation to George and Damien Nepata.

“I know today’s decision will be disappointing for George and Damien Nepata,” says Dr Coleman.

“While I have huge sympathy for the brothers who were tragically injured in two separate incidents, it is clear there have been no substantive changes to their case since Cabinet considered the issue ten years ago.

Phil Goff is again misleading New Zealanders by creating a false picture of the state of the Defence Force, says Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman.

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman has announced that the new Chief of Defence Force will be Major General Tim Keating.

Currently the Vice Chief of Defence Force, Major General Keating will be promoted to Lieutenant General and will take over from Lieutenant General Rhys Jones on 1 February 2014 for a three year term.

“I congratulate Major General Keating on his new appointment as Chief of Defence Force,” says Dr Coleman. “I would also like to thank outgoing Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Jones for his service to New Zealand.

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman says the NZDF has officially received 40 new Medium-Heavy Operational Vehicles at a handover ceremony in Auckland today, just seven months after they were purchased.

“The new Rheinmetall-MAN military medium and heavy vehicles are a significant step up in capability for the NZDF, replacing the old Unimog and Mercedes trucks. They are designed for modern military operations and offer better mobility, better protection, enhanced technology, and greater capacity.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully and Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman today praised the work of the Royal New Zealand Air Force in the Philippines as the C-130 Hercules stationed in Tacloban prepares to return to New Zealand.

“Typhoon Haiyan had a catastrophic impact on parts of the Philippines, leaving more than 5000 people dead and destroying more than one million homes,” Mr McCully says.

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman has held successful talks with China’s Minister of National Defense, General Chang Wanquan.

“It has been great to visit China for the first time in my role as Minister of Defence,” says Dr Coleman. “It has also been good to reciprocate the many visits to New Zealand by senior members of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), including General Zhao Keshi’s recent visit.

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman welcomes the signing of a new defence co-operation arrangement with Viet Nam.

“This arrangement reaffirms the value New Zealand places on our defence relationship with Viet Nam,” says Dr Coleman.

“The Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Co-operation formalises our relationship and provides a strong framework to enhance future defence co-operation in areas of mutual interest. It also forms the basis of another important strand in the wider New Zealand-Viet Nam relationship.

HMNZS OTAGO departs Dunedin today to monitor fishing activities in the Southern Ocean.

New Zealand-designated Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) inspectors from the Ministry for Primary Industries will be on board to conduct compliance checks on the Southern Ocean’s legal fishing fleet.

“New Zealand takes its commitment to Southern Ocean conservation seriously.  It is vital that, as a CCAMLR member, we play our part in tackling illegal fishing activities,” Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully says.

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman departs for Viet Nam and China this weekend for a series of meetings with his ministerial counterparts and defence officials.

“New Zealand engages with a wide range of defence partners in the Asia-Pacific region, co-operating on matters of common interest,” says Dr Coleman.

“A good example of this co-operation is Exercise Phoenix Spirit, which was held in New Zealand in August, where NZDF, Australian, US and Chinese personnel worked through humanitarian assistance and disaster relief scenarios.

Phil Goff continues to mislead the New Zealand public on the state of the New Zealand Defence Force, says Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman.

“On the back of today’s Select Committee hearing on defence, Mr Goff has painted a misleading picture on the state of the NZDF,” says Dr Coleman.

“He is completely distorting the Chief of Defence Force’s words when he claims that the CDF says it will take seven years for the NZDF to ‘recover from the damage done to it in the last couple of years’.

A RNZAF Hercules C-130 which left New Zealand on Thursday has delivered key emergency aid equipment and food to the battered cities of Tacloban and Ormoc and the town of Guiuan.

The Hercules was the first C-130 to land at Ormoc since Typhoon Haiyan hit the region. Crew unloaded the cargo of World Food Programme stocks, and then 126 Filipino evacuees were transported to Cebu.

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman is today visiting Exercise Southern Katipo in Timaru.

“Exercise Southern Katipo is a significant exercise for the NZDF,” says Dr Coleman. “It is the largest ever international exercise held in New Zealand with up to 2,200 military personnel taking part, including personnel from Australia, Canada, France, Malaysia, PNG, Singapore, Tonga, UK and US.”

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman says Navy frigate HMNZS Te Mana has departed Darwin today for counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden.

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman told the Defence Industry Association annual conference today that the Government remains committed to a sustainable and affordable future Defence Force out to 2030.

“The Government inherited a substantial long term funding gap in defence, and the 2010 Defence White Paper signalled that new money would be required over time to maintain and improve NZDF capabilities,” says Dr Coleman.

It’s great to be addressing the New Zealand Defence Industry Association today. Since we met back in March at your quarterly meeting, a lot has happened in defence in the last eight months.

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman and US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel have agreed to extend co-operation on peacekeeping initiatives. 

“Our defence relationship with the US is in great shape, and provides a strong platform for working closely together in the future,” says Dr Coleman.

“We have agreed to expand our co-operation on peacekeeping training initiatives. We will be looking for opportunities to support our Asia-Pacific partners to build the capacity of their peacekeeping forces.

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman says this incident highlights the reality of operations in Afghanistan.

"The work our personnel undertake in Afghanistan is dangerous. Our people are well trained and are prepared to respond to a range of situations," says Dr Coleman.

"While we have a preliminary understanding of what occurred, there will be an investigation into this incident.

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman will travel to Washington this weekend for bilateral talks with US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel on Monday.

“New Zealand’s defence relationship with the United States is in great shape. I’m looking forward to discussing with Secretary Hagel how we can build on the achievements made in the last year,” says Dr Coleman.

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman and Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges welcome the start of operations to re-enter Pike River Coal Mine’s main tunnel up to the rock fall.

“The Government has been working closely with Solid Energy to ensure the re-entry plan can be safely carried out. Safety is paramount, and the project will be carefully managed with a risk assessment undertaken at each stage,” says Mr Bridges.

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman today met with senior Chinese military chief General Zhao Keshi, member of the Central Military Commission and Director of the General Logistics Department.

“It is great to welcome General Zhao to New Zealand. He is the most senior Chinese official to visit this year across government, and the most senior People’s Liberation Army visitor since 2010,” says Dr Coleman.

“New Zealand engages with a wide range of defence partners in the Asia-Pacific region.

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman and Police Minister Anne Tolley welcome the introduction of new meritorious service medals to recognise outstanding service by personnel in the NZ Defence Force and NZ Police.

“We have some great people in the Defence Force, and it is important to recognise and reward outstanding service,” says Dr Coleman.