this was the latest a week or two back :
US to help NZ sell mothballed combat planes
The United States has offered to assist New Zealand to sell its mothballed combat planes, according to Defence Minister Phil Goff.
Mr Goff was updating Parliament's foreign affairs, defence and trade select committee on Thursday on the progress of the sale of the Skyhawk and Aermacchi.
The Government has two separate bids for about $150 million, but the deal is awaiting clearance from the US administration.
Mr Goff says he discussed the issue with the American Deputy Secretary of Defence, Gordon England, on a visit to Washington last week.
Meanwhile, New Zealand is unlikely to end any of its overseas deployments in the near future.
Mr Goff says there is a shared commitment by the international community to be in Afghanistan for the long haul.
He says the situations in East Timor and the Solomon Islands are relatively calm and stable.
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