NZ soldierwho died in Mideast named

The New Zealand Defence Force have named a Kiwi soldier who died in Jordan as Sergeant Paul Andrew Hartley.

The 30-year-old national liaison officer who died on Thursday in a non-combat incident at a coalition headquarters was from Auckland.

Plans were under way to repatriate Hartley’s body so he could be reunited with his family and friends in a private ceremony.

There were no suspicious circumstances related to the death, the NZDF said. It is understood it to be a suspected suicide.

The NZDF has a number of liaison officers at headquarters throughout the Middle East and around the world.

The man’s family was being supported by the NZDF.

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee said he was aware of the death.

He said it was always a tragedy when any soldier serving overseas lost their life, particularly for their families.

He explained the coalition headquarters in Jordan helps with logis- tics and analysis of the situation to help troops in Iraq.

‘‘We’ve got a lot of guys up there who are largely in support of our unit in Taji . . . we want to know what the risks are.’’

‘‘I would just express deep sympathies to the family and at the same time gratitude for the service that their loved one has given to the people of New Zealand.’’

Labour defence spokesman Phil Goff wanted to recognise the soldiers that work in ‘‘sometimes lonely and difficult situations’’.

He said they would be under pressures that others wouldn’t be aware of given the nature of their jobs.

‘‘A special acknowledgement to the soldiers who serve as this soldier did. Our hearts go out to the soldier’s family.’’

An NZDF spokeswoman would not confirm or deny whether the coalition headquarters referred to the same base in Jordan.

The ‘‘coalition’’ likely refers to Operation Inherent Resolve, the USled effort against Islamic State.