New Zealand troops return from Iraq

New Zealand Army personnel from the building partner capacity mission in Iraq return to Ohakea Air Force Base today. Photo / Supplied

The New Zealand soldiers deployed to Iraq in November have returned.

About 70 of the troops, sent to help train Iraqi security forces, touched down at Ohakea airforce base near Bulls, welcomed by Chief of Air Force Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies.

The soldiers form part of the second rotation deployed to Iraq last November.

A group of 37 Defence Force personnel from the same rotation returned to New Zealand last Wednesday.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key visited Kiwi troops based at Camp Taji in Iraq who are part of a mission to train Iraqi troops. Photo / Supplied

The troops had been part of the Building Partner Capacity mission, training Iraqi security forces, and were based at the Taji Military Complex north of Baghdad.

In April last year, the first rotation was deployed, with more than 100 New Zealand forces being deployed to Iraq alongside soldiers from the Australian Defence Force.

The training provided by Task Group Taji covered weapons handling, combat first aid, live fire training and drills in complex war fighting environments. Other specialised courses provided lessons on map reading, use of the Global Positioning System, marksmanship and leadership, among other topics.

Iraqi soldiers were also taught the fundamental aspects of international humanitarian law and the law of armed conflict.