New Zealand has declined a request from NATO to join a mission in Iraq, working with its Defence Ministry to help rebuild Iraq's military institutions.
NATO's Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, who's visiting New Zealand this week, first made the request to the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in Brussels in January.
The non-combat mission was established last October at the request of the Iraqi government.
New Zealand has also chosen not to join a European Union mission providing Iraq with advice and assistance for national security, counter-terrorism and organised crime strategies.
The two missions are discussed in Cabinet papers made public after the Government announced next year's withdrawal from Iraq.
Defence Minister Ron Mark told RNZ political editor Jane Patterson New Zealand's focus is now closer to home.
