Two Air Force planes will depart for the Middle East next week to support counter-piracy operations in the Persian Gulf.
A RNZAF Orion arrives back in Whenuapai, New Zealand, after a previous deployment in 2014. Photo: RNZ / Kate Newton
A Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 Orion will leave on Monday and a Boeing 757 will leave on Wednesday.
Air Commodore Kevin McEvoy said he could not comment on whether the contingent could be re-deployed to fight against the Islamic State group which has been seizing territory in Iraq and Syria.
He said any such re-deployment would be the Prime Minister's decision, and the current personnel movement is just a routine rotation.
"The Orion aircraft is a routine changeover for the aircraft that's already out there and the Boeing will be taking the rest of the detachment."
A total of 47 Defence Force personnel are going as part of the rotation and will join a multi-national initiative to combat piracy and drug-trafficking in the Gulf.
