Police today released the names of six more people who died in Christchurch's February 22, magnitude 6.3 earthquake, while Education Minister Anne Tolley has announced 110 schools in the region will have reopened by next week.

The decision to let Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae stay on in his role as a senior public servant shows poor judgement.

Massive earthquake damage in Christchurch means Kirifi Mila, the New Zealand soldier killed in Afghanistan last week, will be buried in Hamilton without a formal military farewell from his army mates.

Secure job, training, no student loan, chance to see the world, how could any parent object?

The family of an NZ soldier killed in an accident in Afghanistan this week say he was the "Einstein of the family" and will be sorely missed.

The body of Private Kirifi Mila, killed in a road accident in Afghanistan, has begun its journey home to New Zealand after being farewelled from Kiwi Base overnight.

The body of Private Kirifi Mila, killed in a motor accident while serving in Afghanistan on Tuesday, is expected to return to New Zealand next week, the Defence Force says.

The death of a soldier in Afghanistan is at least the ninth time in 12 years a NZ soldier has been killed in a vehicle accident.

The soldier killed when the vehicle he was in rolled down a cliff in Afghanistan was the sixth New Zealander - the fourth in the past year - to die in the country since the conflict began.

The soldier killed in a road crash in Afghanistan was a popular member of his unit who will be sorely missed, the New Zealand Defence Force says.

The New Zealand solider killed in a vehicle crash in Afghanistan has been named. The Defence Force said he was a popular member of his unit and well known as a 'colourful character'.

A New Zealand army soldier has lost a prestigious secondment to the Antarctic.

New Zealand and Australian defence heads deny forces are hindering progress in Afghanistan.