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The Defence Minister, Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman, officially welcomed the first of the Air Force’s new medium utility NH90 helicopters at an event in Wellington today.

The NH90 helicopters will be the most advanced and capable helicopter the Air Force has ever had,” said Dr Coleman.

“The NH90s will considerably improve the Defence Force’s ability to conduct military, counter-terrorism, disaster relief, search and rescue, and other operations,” he said.

A ceremony to rebury the remains of a New Zealand soldier was held at Messines Ridge British Cemetery near Ieper, Belgium on Friday 3 February.

The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Defence, Dr Jonathan Coleman, the Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Rhys Jones, the Secretary of Defence, John McKinnon, the New Zealand Ambassador (Belgium), Vangelis Vitalis, and the Head of Defence Staff, New Zealand High Commission Brigadier Antony (Lofty) Hayward.

Thank you Burgemeester Evrard

Your excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

Today’s ceremony is a chance to reflect on the sacrifices of a generation of young New Zealanders who gave their lives in Flanders.

It is also a time to acknowledge the people of Flanders and Belgium for looking after the sons of New Zealand in remembrance of that terrible experience of almost a century ago.

The ties that bind our countries were forged here and will never be broken.

Secretary General

It is a pleasure to attend my first meeting of NATO’s North Atlantic Council with its ISAF partners and I look forward to working with you and all my colleagues around the table in the months and years ahead.

Secretary General, today’s discussion provides an important opportunity to further refine and shape the strategic plan for Afghanistan that will be adopted at the Chicago Summit in just over three months time.

Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith today met with New Zealand’s newly appointed Minister of Defence Dr Jonathan Coleman for the Ministers’ first formal bilateral meeting.

The meeting was held in Melbourne in conjunction with the annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders’ Meeting between Prime Ministers and senior Cabinet Ministers today.

The Ministers announced a new Australia-New Zealand Defence Relationship Framework, which builds on the ANZAC tradition and the longstanding comprehensive defence relationship between Australia and New Zealand.

The Minister of Defence is attending defence talks in Europe next week after the bilateral meeting with the Australian Defence Minister and attending the joint Australian New Zealand Cabinet meeting in Melbourne this weekend.

On Sunday evening Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman will travel to London to meet defence leaders and to hold talks related to his State Services portfolio.

The NZ Defence Force is joining an international partnership to give it guaranteed satellite communications for the next 20 years, Defence Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman announced today.

“This gives a significant boost to our forces’ capacity both at home and overseas,” said Dr Coleman.

“It will increase our access to satellite broadband more than twenty-fold, with guaranteed access and at a fixed price, ensuring better value for money.”