An emotional hospital-bed email has revealed how the heroics of a Kiwi soldier who saved the lives of two comrades under heavy Taleban gunfire were inspired by his fallen commander.

The father of a NZ soldier in Afghanistan, who saved two British colleagues from a live grenade, says he's "just glad (his son) came out of it".

The actions of a quick thinking NZ soldier save the lives of two British Army colleagues during a Taleban grenade attack in Afghanistan.

Defence Force troops are less likely to be injured on missions in war-torn Afghanistan and Iraq than they are at home base.

A military helicopter at the centre of a $770 million NZ Air Force upgrade has copped harsh criticism in a German Army report.

NZ's elite SAS troops have been involved in another firefight in Afghanistan, and once again press photographers have captured them in action.

The NZ men's hockey team will stay in Perth for the time being rather than travel on to India for the Hockey World Cup.

Govt officials are liaising with sports bodies in light of terror threats targeting sports events in India as the NZ hockey team prepares to travel there.

A militant group with links to al Qaeda has warned the world not to send sports people to competitions in India, including the Commonwealth Games.