Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Troops Are Training in Waiouru for Iraq

Troops Are Training in Waiouru for Iraq


Both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence have potentially misled Parliament that the government has not instructed the Defence Force to prepare for deployment in Iraq. New Zealand First sources have revealed that troops knew as early as mid-November that they are entering pre-deployment training for Iraq.

“The Minister of Defence maintains that there was no preparation by the Defence Force for a new mission, has suggested that only ten officers were involved and that there’s no training underway at Waiouru. He’s mistaken our sources tell us,” Ron Mark, New Zealand First Defence spokesperson says.

“We have been told that a company sized force of up to 150 personnel from 2nd/1st and1 Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment with a logistics component, is now in Waiouru completing the first phase of pre-deployment training.

“When I suggested to Minister Brownlee it must then be a rogue commander and a rogue unit that is training, the Minister condescendingly replied my contacts ‘were a bit too long in the tooth to be reliable.’

“Sadly, New Zealand First knows more about what’s going on than the Minister, or what the Minister is prepared to publicly share with the New Zealand public.

“It is disappointing that the Minister and the Prime Minister are refusing to be open and honest about committing our forces to a war in the Middle East instead of playing down the clock until Parliament lifts for the year. Come on, be honest with Parliament and the people.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“Our concerns are for the troops who have been given an anticipated deployment at the end of February or early March 2015. What doesn’t sit right is that the troops were warned of this possible deployment mid-November and yet the Minister still denies it.

“Our Defence Force members and their families over Christmas, should at the very least be given honesty around whatever deals the Prime Minister has struck with other countries.

“Something is going on at Waiouru, and it looks very like pre deployment training for Iraq,” says Mr Mark.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.