New Zealand Defence Force personnel deployed in a non-combat training mission to Iraq
On 24 February 2015, the Government announced that the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) will deploy to Iraq in a non-combat training mission to build the capacity of the Iraqi security forces to combat the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
Up to 143 NZDF personnel were approved by Cabinet to deploy on a training mission, with the main body of the deployment expected to deploy in May 2015. The training of Iraqi security forces at Taji will cover a broad range of individual and organisational military skills so that Iraqi security forces can eventually assume responsibility for delivering their own training programmes.
The deployment will be for a period of two years from the time of arrival in Iraq with a review by Cabinet after nine months. The total cost of the two-year Building Partner Capacity deployment is assessed at approximately $65 million.
Read the:
- Prime Minister's ministerial statement to the House on ISIL(external link)
- Prime Minister's media release regarding the contribution against ISIL(external link)
- Minister of Defence’s media release regarding the training mission to Iraq(external link)
- Minister of Foreign Affairs' media release regarding further diplomatic and humanitarian measures being considered as part of the Government's response to ISIL(external link)
- Chief of Defence Force's media release regarding the mission(external link).
Cabinet decisions
On scoping work
On 3 November 2014, Cabinet considered a proposal to send a scoping team to the Middle East to explore options for a New Zealand military contribution. Read the proposal and associated minutes:
- Briefing paper tabled at Cabinet by the Minister of Defence [PDF, 394 KB]
- Cabinet minute: Additional item: International Response to ISIL: Options for New Zealand Contribution [CAB Min (14) 35/15] [PDF, 276 KB].
On the training mission
Read the Cabinet paper regarding the training mission to Iraq and the associated Cabinet minute: