Minister of Defence Judith Collins says the readiness of the New Zealand Defence Force is improving after a report late last year suggested widespread issues.

A recent RNZ report revealed the defence force told the Government in December last year it was "systemically fragile" owing to ageing equipment, a reduced workforce and a loss of experience. This morning, Collins told Breakfast it was a "very good point".

"The fact is, we have been working really hard and the Defence Force has been working hard to increase the retention of troops.

"We have seen a marked improvement since the end of last year."

She pointed to retention payments and increased deployment opportunities as key factors in the turnaround.

Collins added: "There's a Budget coming out [next month], and I'm not able to speak about the Budget – but I'm sure you will know that I am out there fighting for our Defence Force people just as I expect that they will always stand up for New Zealanders."

Collins marked Anzac Day at Passchendaele in Flanders, Belgium, laying a wreath at dawn before travelling to other sites.

Passchendaele was the site of a horrific battle in 1917, described on the New Zealand History website as Aotearoa's "blackest day".

"It was a wonderful dawn service," Collins told Breakfast.

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"We've had a day of commemorating those who have fallen and I really felt that people very much respect the New Zealand contribution, very much respect the fact that New Zealand is always there to help when people need it, and I was very proud of it."

Asked about the link between the past and now, Collins said: "In Ukraine for instance... the sort of warfare there at the moment, yes, there's a lot of high-tech parts of it, but so much of it is trench warfare.

"So much of it are people just working through and trying to survive in the most awful conditions, and not that much has changed except for the technology.

Minister of Defence Judith Collins says the readiness of the New Zealand Defence Force is improving after a report late last year suggested widespread issues.

A recent RNZ report revealed the defence force told the Government in December last year it was "systemically fragile" owing to ageing equipment, a reduced workforce and a loss of experience. This morning, Collins told Breakfast it was a "very good point".

"The fact is, we have been working really hard and the Defence Force has been working hard to increase the retention of troops.

"We have seen a marked improvement since the end of last year."

She pointed to retention payments and increased deployment opportunities as key factors in the turnaround.

Collins added: "There's a Budget coming out [next month], and I'm not able to speak about the Budget – but I'm sure you will know that I am out there fighting for our Defence Force people just as I expect that they will always stand up for New Zealanders."

Collins marked Anzac Day at Passchendaele in Flanders, Belgium, laying a wreath at dawn before travelling to other sites.

Passchendaele was the site of a horrific battle in 1917, described on the New Zealand History website as Aotearoa's "blackest day".

"It was a wonderful dawn service," Collins told Breakfast.

"We've had a day of commemorating those who have fallen and I really felt that people very much respect the New Zealand contribution, very much respect the fact that New Zealand is always there to help when people need it, and I was very proud of it."

Asked about the link between the past and now, Collins said: "In Ukraine for instance... the sort of warfare there at the moment, yes, there's a lot of high-tech parts of it, but so much of it is trench warfare.

"So much of it are people just working through and trying to survive in the most awful conditions, and not that much has changed except for the technology.

"And I think too, we're probably a lot smarter in what we get involved in, how we get involved and our contribution."

She said the New Zealand Defence Force was particulalry proud of how their forebears were acknowledged at commorations around the world such as this week.