Prime Minister Tony Abbott says Australian and New Zealand troops heading to the Middle East to fight Islamic State are the "splendid sons of Anzacs".
Mr Abbott is in Wellington for the Australian Memorial dedication ceremony at the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park, the new multi-million dollar park which has been finished in time for the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings.
Before the ceremony, Mr Abbott and his New Zealand counterpart John Key addressed media at Te Papa, the national museum where Sir Peter Jackson's Great War Exhibition is running.
Mr Abbott batted away a question suggesting confusion between the two countries when details of forces being deployed to Iraq were released in Australia, but New Zealand didn't citing security issues.
"I am just really thrilled our two countries are working together as we are," Mr Abbott said.
Australia has committed around 300 more troops to support the international fight against IS and they will combine with a NZ contingent of up to 143 in a training role with Iraqi forces.
"I think it is quite fitting that 100 years on, Australians and New Zealanders are again working for our values and our interests together in Iraq," Mr Abbott said.
"They will be, I suppose, splendid sons of Anzacs. That's what they will be, over there in Iraq."
Later, before he laid a wreath at Pukeahu, Mr Abbott's speech made reference to Australia's most decorated hero at Gallipoli, Alfred Shout, who was born in Wellington.
"On days such as this, we do not glorify war but we acknowledge the selflessness and comradeship of shared struggle."
The ceremony attracted a small group of protesters, bearing a banner saying Australia was "not the lucky country for refugees", while they chanted "war monger, war monger, out, out, out".
Earlier, Mr Abbott said sending troops to fight IS was necessary.
"This particular conflict is reaching out to us, and that's why this deployment to the Middle East is not just about helping people over there, it's about helping our own people too."
Mr Key concurred, saying IS had the "absolute desire" to bring the war to our countries.
Mr Abbott said the heightened threat meant there was now more security at public events, including Anzac Day ceremonies.
"The best thing Australians and New Zealanders can do is to turn up in very large numbers at Anzac events, wherever they are, to support our values, our interests, our armed forces."
Mr Abbott said while in Turkey, he would speak with the leaders about the number of Australians going into Syria through its border with Turkey.
"It is absolutely critical that as far as humanly possible, we stop gullible and impressionable young Australians from going places where they can very easily be killed or they could get caught up in something which is in no one's interests."
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