Over 100 New Zealand soldiers have been warmly welcomed by their families and officials after their return from deployment in Iraq.
Troops returning from Iraq are welcomed by Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee and Commander Joint Forces New Zealand Major-General Tim Gall. Photo: Pool / Warwick Smith / Fairfax NZ
They were eager to make the most of it, with one saying she was anxious to "give my husband and my family a big hug, and have a glass of champagne, as I haven't had a wine in ages!"
Another had plotted with his wife so it would be a complete surprise for his four children when he walked through the door.
Late this afternoon, the 105 New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) soldiers who served in the first deployment to Iraq arrived back in New Zealand, touching down at the Ohakea Air Base.
They have been part of a joint mission with Australia, based in Camp Taji, just out of Baghdad, where they have been training members of the Iraqi Security Force as part of international efforts in the fight against Islamic State.
More on the New Zealanders at Camp Taji
As they filed off the plane, the troops were welcomed by Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee and Commander Joint Forces New Zealand Major-General Tim Gall.
They flew in from Australia where they were debriefed after leaving Iraq.
The troops flew in from Australia, where they were debriefed after leaving Iraq. Photo: Pool / Warwick Smith / Fairfax NZ
Major-General Gall told reporters the mission had been going well.
"We've trained over 2000 people who are out there on the battlefield and by all accounts are doing well."
He said the New Zealanders in Camp Taji were as safe as they could be.
"In the way that they're located in Taji, so they're sort of in a bubble inside a bubble, but overall, Iraq's a dangerous place still."
Mr Brownlee said the nature of the terrorist attacks in Paris showed Islamic State was firmly rooted in ideology.
"But what it does mean is that you can engage with them in a military sense and you need to be doing so in an effective way.
"That is a task the Iraqi Security Forces are taking on and I think the contribution that our guys are making to train those soldiers will ultimately be part of getting on top of this particular problem."
Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee (centre) speaks with some of the members of the first deployment. Photo: Pool / Warwick Smith / Fairfax NZ
Prime Minister John Key visited the New Zealand personnel in Taji Camp last month.
The deployment has been set down for two years, and Mr Key has made it clear the Government has no intention to extend that any further.
Soldiers in the second deployment left New Zealand a few weeks ago and are now in Camp Taji.
There will be four deployments all up, in the course of the two-year mission.
View a gallery of photos from Prime Minister John Key's visit to Iraq:
