The Chilcot Report released today shows John Key was wrong to call New Zealand “MIA” over the 2003 war in Iraq and Labour made the right decision not to send troops, Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little says.

“At the time John Key said: ‘Our traditional allies are in this agreement. Where is our name? Missing! It is MIA just like it was during the war in Iraq—missing.’

The Labour Party expresses its heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the people of Orlando for the mass shooting that has left at least 50 of its residents dead and a further 53 injured.

“As a party that has championed equal rights and marriage equality, Labour utterly condemns this attack,” Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little says.

Staff shortages – not lack of need – is why the Navy’s inshore patrol vessels are not being put to sea, Labour’s Defence spokesperson Phil Goff says.

“Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee is deliberately misleading New Zealand in suggesting otherwise. Half of the new fleet has languished at port and have not gone to sea for years.

The Government must explain why $1 million of Defence Force expenditure and taxpayers money was wasted on an unfounded attack on journalist Jon Stephenson, says Labour Defence spokesperson Phil Goff.

“The attack on Jon Stephenson’s credibility by both the Defence Force and the Prime Minister creates the impression of a dirty tricks campaign to undermine the questions and the criticism he raised.

The Auditor-General has found the Defence Force failed to follow the rules when it hired a company -- run by its own personnel – to service its life jackets, Labour’s Defence spokesperson Phil Goff says.

“In a damning report, the Auditor General today found the arrangement between the Defence Force and the company Miltech failed to follow public sector good practice principles and raised ethical concerns.

New Zealand should not rush into committing combat forces to Iraq, says Labour’s Defence spokesperson Phil Goff

US Secretary of Defence, Ash Carter, has called on New Zealand to make further military commitments to the war in Iraq.

It is appalling the Government rejected a plea by families to return the remains of soldiers killed in Malaya and Vietnam to New Zealand, Labour’s Defence spokesperson Phil Goff, who presented their case, says.

Their request was voted down by Government MPs on the Foreign Affairs Select Committee yesterday.  

Serious questions have emerged about the capacity of the Defence Force to protect New Zealand’s borders, Labour’s Defence spokesperson Phil Goff says.

“Today’s financial review of Customs reveals it can’t do the job of providing surveillance of what it defines as the highest risk areas.

Labour Defence spokesperson Phil Goff has paid tribute to the New Zealand Defence Force personnel awarded medals for gallantry.

“The soldiers who received decorations for gallantry in Afghanistan and South Sudan upheld the proud traditions of New Zealand soldiers in the courage and leadership they showed in combat.  New Zealand can be proud of them and the service they have given to their country”, Phil Goff said.

The NZDF’s refusal to enlist a young woman just because she was born in Iraq is plain stupid, says Labour’s Defence spokesperson Phil Goff.

Warda Jawad,25, was told her application to join the Defence Force was rejected on security grounds because she was born in Iraq, despite the fact she came to New Zealand when she was 3.