The Defence Force chief is rejecting claims of a lack of transparency around New Zealand's troop deployment to Iraq.
Labour Party leader Andrew Little has accused the Government of being too secretive about its plans for the 143 troops headed for the Middle East on a mission to train Iraqi troops.
General Tim Keating Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
Prime Minister John Key has refused to confirm reports that some soldiers were about to arrive in Iraq this week .
Lieutenant General Tim Keating, told TVNZ's Q + A programme the military's intentions were plain and the Defence Force and the Government were being open about this country's intentions, where necessary.
But he said the public still might not be told exactly when New Zealand's troops leave for Iraq.
General Keating said the decision whether or not to make the deployment date public ultimately lay with the Government.