Prime Minister John Key has informed Australia and Iraq of the Government's plans for military deployment to Iraq and will set out the details in Parliament this afternoon, Radio New Zealand reports.
Key has all but confirmed New Zealand will be sending troops to Iraq to help train local forces.
There was likely to be an intelligence gathering role, possibly to help direct air strikes against Islamic State fighters.
The prime minister said in any deployment New Zealand troops would have the flexibility to protect themselves, but not to come to the aid of Iraqis under fire.
"If we announce that we're sending people to train Iraqi forces we're just doing that, training Iraqi forces," Key says.
"To stand up to ISIL [Islamic State] to combat ISIL but it's not New Zealand at war with ISIL, it would be New Zealand providing services to assist others."
Key said New Zealand could also help with intelligence gathering - possibly to assist with airstrikes.
