The Government is copping criticism over a lack of transparency around deployment of New Zealand troops to Iraq.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, like the Australian Defence Minister, is unable to name the leader of Islamic State.

"Look I'll get it wrong if I actually name his name - it's al Jabiri something - but whatever I mean, but yeah," Key said on Wednesday.

This follows on from news that Australian Defence Minister Kevin Andrews was also unable to name the leader of the Islamic State terror group.

SYDNEY MORNING HERALD The Defence Minister dodges questions about the name of the leader of the extremist group on the same day he commits Australian troops to a two year training mission in Iraq.

The Government is copping criticism over a lack of transparency around deployment of New Zealand troops to Iraq, amid reports the first group will deploy on Wednesday.

New Zealand is sending 143 troops to train the Iraqi military as part of an international coalition to defeat Islamic State (Isis) - but the Government has refused to confirm whether they are deploying immediately alongside their Australian counterparts.

The Australian Federal Cabinet on Tuesday signed off on that country deploying about 330 additional troops to Iraq.

Defence Minister Kevin Andrews.

In an interview, Andrews repeatedly avoided answering directly about the leadership of the group, insisting it was complex and shifting.



This is partly true, however the Islamic State's leader is universally recognised as Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, who has declared himself the Muslim world's Caliph, is solely named leader by Islamic State supporters and is regarded as the leader by Western countries.



Andrews was initially asked: "Who is the top leader and what sort of focus is there on his capture?"



He said there was a "cadre" of leaders of the Islamic State, also known as ISIL or Da'esh.

When pressed, he said he was "not going to go into operational matters".

He added there was "fluidity between groups" and there was "not just one person involved".

Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Despite being asked four times, he was unable to name al Baghdadi.

In making the announcement, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Iraq was a "dangerous place" and the mission was not "risk free" though the troops will remain on a base.



The US government has a $10 million bounty on al-Baghdadi. While the self-declared Caliph remains reclusive, he caused a significant stir when he appeared last July at a mosque in the Iraqi city of Mosul to lead Friday prayer.



After the interview, Andrews said: "Focussing on individuals ignores the threat that extremist organisations present. We remain firm in our resolve to defeat Da'esh."



So with this in mind, Stuff wants to know how many influential world leaders you can name.



