Joining the war on terror ended up compromising New Zealand's good name, investigative journalist Jon Stephenson believes.
Speaking at the foreign policy event, Mr Stephenson spoke about his work uncovering the role of the New Zealand SAS in transferring detainees who were later tortured by the receiving authority.
International law prohibits the transfer of detainees if it could put them at risk of torture.
Some suffered terrible abuse and injuries, despite often having done nothing wrong. Becoming radicalised by the ''agony and humiliation'', many joined the insurgency movement.
It helped to created the ''mess'' witnessed in Iraq today. ''It's worth remembering that some key Isis leaders were radicalised in American prisons during the post 2003 occupation.''
The Government had been evasive about New Zealand's role in the transfers, and gave no appearance of contrition about what had happened.
Some defence force personnel left the military ''disillusioned and even disgusted'' by their country's complicity, Mr Stephenson said.
