MP visits Kiwi troops in Middle East

Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller in Iraq. Photo supplied

Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller has visited New Zealand troops supporting the fight against ISIS in Iraq.

Mr Muller has just returned from a visit to the Middle East with Defence Minister Mark Mitchell's delegation.

"This was my first time meeting serving Kiwi troops and I was struck by their professionalism, humility and the genuine satisfaction they were gaining from assisting the global effort to defeat ISIS," Mr Muller said.

He visited a team based in Al Minhad Airbase in the United Arab Emirates, and one at Camp Taji, north of Baghdad.

At Camp Taji, 106 Kiwi soldiers are part of the joint training mission with Australia to assist the Iraqi forces build their capability.

"There is something very humbling about seeing these young professionals doing a job they love - that they have trained for - in a region that is hot and inhospitable," Mr Muller said.

He said they and their mission were making a difference.

He spoke to trainers, force protection and medics, as well as members of teams that manage logistics, administration support, communication and intelligence.

"When I spoke with an Iraqi General who was overseeing the training we were providing his troops, already battle-hardened from the current campaign in Mosul, he was very clear that the New Zealand and Australian training was critical to their future success - not only in liberating Mosul but the longer term challenges of stabilising ground won back from ISIS".

"Another clear take away from meeting some of the Iraqi troops on the ground and their leadership in Baghdad is how the mix of our professional soldiering and understated humility was really connecting with the Iraqis and is a key ingredient in the success of the training and adoption of the techniques in theatre.

"There is a genuine level of trust and respect being built up".

"With ISIS in full retreat, New Zealand is playing its part in this critical mission," he said.

Mr Muller is chairman of Parliament's Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee.

Kiwi soldiers in Iraq

- 106 Kiwi soldiers in joint taskforce with Australia assisting Iraqi forces
- The taskforce has trained 22,000 Iraqi soldiers trained 2015
- 60,000 square kilometres have been liberated
- 1.7 million Iraqis have returned to their homes
- 250,000 children are now back at school.