16:59 GMT, January 27, 2012 The Minister of Defence of New Zealand is attending defence talks in Europe next week after the bilateral meeting with the Australian Defence Minister and attending the joint Australian New Zealand Cabinet meeting in Melbourne this weekend.

On Sunday evening Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman will travel to London to meet defence leaders and to hold talks related to his State Services portfolio.

He will then attend the ISAF Defence Ministers meeting in Brussels for talks on support and transition in Afghanistan.
Dr Coleman will also hold a series of bilateral meetings with senior ISAF and NATO political and military figures.

While in Belgium the Minister will also attend a special ceremony at Messines Ridge near Ieper on February 3rd for the reburial service of the remains of a New Zealand soldier.

The World War One soldier’s remains were discovered with his NZ Rifle Brigade hat badge, shoulder badge and rifle brigade buttons.