PM Ardern announces extension of NZDF deployments in Iraq & Afghanistan

The Iraq deployment will be extended until June 2019, and the Afghanistan deployment will be extended until September 2019.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters, and Defence Minister Ron Mark have announced an extension of the New Zealand Defence Force military training deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, and a renewal of three peacekeeping missions in the Middle East and Africa.

"The decision to deploy defense force personnel overseas is one of the hardest for any government to take, especially when these deployments are too challenging and dangerous environments," Jacinda Ardern said.

"The Government has weighed a number of factors, including carefully considering the risks to our servicemen and women based on advice from the New Zealand Defence Force. The decisions themselves were taken following careful Cabinet deliberations."

The Iraq deployment will be extended until June 2019, and the Afghanistan deployment will be extended until September 2019. This allows New Zealand to fulfill its current commitment to both missions.

In the cases of Iraq and Afghanistan, the Government will be using the coming year to consider all options for New Zealand's future contributions.

The three peacekeeping missions are to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) in the Golan Heights and Lebanon and the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) mission in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt.

"The Government has decided to continue with our current commitments to three peacekeeping missions in the Middle East and Africa, where we have an established presence and proven track record," Winston Peters said.

(With inputs from New Zealand Government press release)