Defence Minister Wayne Mapp has announced his intention to stand down at the next election.

The resumption of full intelligence sharing with the US was not made public as the Govt does not comment on national security, John Key says.

Labour and National Governments agreed to US demands for secrecy around improvements to the defence and intelligence relationship.

No diplomatic cables have been released so far which would be as embarrassing for NZ as for Australia.

The Navy's newest ship, the fault-prone HMNZS Otago, is once again being forced to return to port.

The mother of a NZ soldier shot in Afghanistan told an emotional press conference today that if her son "wanted something, he did it", describing John Howard as a man "never prepared to accept less than the best."

The death of a New Zealander serving in the British Army in Afghanistan is "very sad", Prime Minister John Key says. The soldier is understood to be John "Jack" Howard.

The New Zealand soldier killed in Afghanistan while serving with the British Army is understood to be John "Jack" Howard. Private Howard had been patrolling in the Nad 'Ali district of Helmand province when he was shot.

NZ troops were forced to step in for ineffective Hungarian troops in a neighbouring Afghanistan province, a leaked diplomatic cable says.

John Key says leaked cables from the US Embassy in Wellington, which form part of this week's massive Wikileaks release, "could cause some embarrassment".

What the international media is saying about North Korea's latest act of aggression.

New Zealand is adding its voice to international outrage over North Korea's artillery attack on South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island.