Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman has postponed a meeting with his Australian counterpart, Stephen Smith, which was scheduled to take place in Perth on Friday.
A spokesman for Dr Coleman says the minister has "a range of issues" to deal with following the deaths in Afghanistan of Lance Corporals Pralli Durrer and Rory Malone.
"The situation has been explained to Mr Smith who fully understands the circumstances," the spokesman told NZ Newswire.
"They have met three times this year and a new date for the meeting which was to take place on Friday will be arranged."
Dr Coleman's spokesman says it was a regular meeting at which the recently agreed joint working relationship and other issues were to have been discussed.
NZN
