Over 100 members of the New Zealand Defence Force have been deployed in Hawaii as part of huge USA-led war games.

The Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Centre is an exercise to prepare for combat in the Pacific.

It runs exercises that simulate what an island-based war might look like.

“We are trying to improve our war fighting readiness,” said Major General Marcus Evans of the US Army 25th Infantry Division and senior commander of the US army in Hawaii.

He spoke exclusively to 1News from an army base in O'ahu, Hawaii.

“We are certainly aware of what is happening in Europe and the Middle East, and it provides a sense of urgency. It gives us the opportunity to focus,” he said.

“But if those events were not happening, we would still be here, developing war fighting readiness.”

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This year, the largest contingent of NZDF personnel are involved, including about 100 members of the NZDF 163rd Artillery Battery.

“We don't usually do it on a scale we are doing it right now due to our size,” said Major Damian Jaques of the 163rd Artillery.

“We want to be a credible defence force and a credible army. There is a lot of change going on the Pacific right now, and we need to be ready.”

The top two issues of concern to the NZDF, according to Chief of Army Major John Boswell, were conflicting superpowers and climate change.

He was also focused on making sure the army was combat ready.

“It's all about regaining those skills that we lost during our commitment to the national Covid response,” he told 1News.

NZDF soldiers were deployed during the Covid-19 response into roles such as guarding and managing MIQ facilities.

“It’s in this case, to ensure our artillery regiment can deliver the key requirements of it - as offensive support in the combat space.”