New Zealand to make fresh pledge of support for Ukraine

New Zealand is set to make fresh pledges of support towards Ukraine's defence against Russia's invasion.

Defence Minister Andrew Little has announced he will travel to Germany this week for the US-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting.

Mr Little said any information and requests canvassed at the meeting would feed into New Zealand's latest assistance package, to be revealed in early June.

"I'll be able to engage with counterparts and other countries about our ongoing support (in Germany)," Mr Little told AAP on Wednesday.

"The prime minister is going to make an announcement when he's in the UK during the week before the coronation."

The forthcoming support will be New Zealand's first contribution to Ukraine's defence in six months.

In December 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy gave a virtual address to parliament in Wellington.

Then Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern responded by announcing $NZ3 million ($A2.8 million) for humanitarian needs, delivered through the Red Cross.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has invited defence ministers from across the world to this week's meeting at Ramstein Air Base.

While the amount of hardware New Zealand can offer Ukraine is limited, it could offer financial support.

"Obviously, there's a lot that we can't provide but we remain committed to provide what support we can," Mr Little said.

"We know that this conflict is going to last for some time (and) we expect to provide ongoing support."

Mr Little suggested the government would not shy away from military aid.

"The reality is this is a war. This is a conflict, an armed conflict, and we want Ukraine to be equipped," he said.

"We want to do our bit to support Ukraine to be equipped to prosecute their side of this conflict."

It is not known whether the prime minister or defence minister will visit Ukraine.

New Zealand has provided about $NZ22.2 million ($A20.5 million) in military aid to Ukraine via the UK and NATO, and thousands of pieces of military equipment including body armour, helmets and vests.

It has also provided more than $NZ19 million ($A17.5 million) in humanitarian and legal assistance, including for displaced people and to support investigations into alleged war crimes.

New Zealand has also levied a range of sanctions against Russia and Belarus, including travel bans on more than 1000 individuals and tariffs or bans on many Russian imports and exports.

As of February, 595 people had arrived in New Zealand on special visas granted due to the conflict, with 1325 visas approved.

Mr Little's travel to Ramstein Air Base, the headquarters of NATO's air forces, comes amid heightened New Zealand engagement with the alliance.

Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta travelled to Brussels earlier this month for the annual NATO Foreign Ministers meeting while Australia sent a European-based diplomat rather than a minister.

Mr Hipkins will attend the NATO leaders summit in Lithuania in July.

Mr Little will travel from Germany to Turkey to represent New Zealand at Anzac Day commemorations at Gallipoli before visiting New Zealand Defence Force personnel stationed in Jordan.