Air Commodore Mike Yardley will be the new Chief of Air Force, when Air Vice-Marshal Peter Stockwell leaves the Defence Force next month after a distinguished 41-year career.

Two brothers seriously injured in botched Defence Force exercises believe New Zealand's service personnel are being hung out to dry by the country's law makers.

An SAS soldier has been fined $4700 at a court martial in Auckland this afternoon for stealing service property, but can remain in the Army.

A staff sergeant in the SAS has told a court martial about how surplus United States military equipment, including a truck, was used by New Zealand armed forces in Afghanistan.

One of the charges against a SAS soldier facing a court martial has been withdrawn this morning.

A SAS soldier accused of stealing service property didn't know the gun accessories were owned by the Army, his defence lawyer told a court martial today.

Major-General Tim Keating has been named the new Chief of Defence Force.

The Defence Force has paid out half a million dollars to other claimants during the 16 years that two badly injured brothers have been fighting for compensation.

Cuts to Defence Force spending could be delayed by up to two years, Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman says.

Details of a Defence Force inquiry into fatal attacks in Afghanistan have been released this afternoon, along with footage of one of the incidents.

The Defence Force will today present the findings of a Court of Inquiry into two incidents which resulted in the deaths of five New Zealand soldiers in Afghanistan last year.

Two brothers who suffered horrific injuries in army training accidents could be nearing the end of their long battle for compensation. (WARNING: Graphic image)

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman rejected suggestions the non-combat deaths of defence force personnel were linked to low morale.

Some family members of Corporal Douglas Hughes say they want an open inquest to satisfy their questions over the soldier's death.

The coroner who declined a full inquest into the suicide of a gay soldier is a Mormon church elder who attacked same-sex marriage in a submission to Parliament, saying it was an unnecessary "social experiment".

The New Zealand navy is relying on Australian sailors to keep it afloat as skilled crew leave in droves for higher-paid jobs across the Tasman.

The Defence Ministry is about to begin seeking tenders for new training aircraft for the Air Force.

The RNZAF will not be prosecuted by the CAA after it put the lives of hundreds of people at risk by illegally shipping chemical oxygen generators on a passenger flight.

A report says an illegal error by the Air Force seriously endangered the lives of all on board an Air New Zealand international flight.