Prime Minister John Key has hailed the close relationship between Australia and New Zealand at the opening of the Australian war memorial in Wellington.
Dedication of the Australian Memorial at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park. Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
John Key was joined by Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, on his second official visit to the country, in opening the memorial, a twin to its New Zealand equivalent in Canberra.
Ahead of the joint deployment to Iraq to help fight Islamic State, Mr Key described the two countries as great mates.
"We like to take the mickey out of each other and we are fierce rivals on the sports field. But when it comes to the crunch we have each others' back every time. It's what mates do."
John Key at the Australian Memorial. Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
Tony Abbott: "We always stand together" Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
Mr Abbott made comparisons between past conflicts and the joint deployment to Iraq to help fight Islamic State, which should be established by the end of May.
"We remember that we stood together. We always stand together.
And even now our armed forces are to work together in Iraq to promote our values and to protect our people."
A group of about half a dozen protestors stationed nearby chanted 'warmonger, warmonger, out, out, out!' at Mr Abbott, and were escorted away by the police before the ceremony's end.
The two leaders will meet again in Turkey at the end of the week to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings.
A handful of protesters were escorted away. Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
