However, whenever public comment could put either a mission or safety at risk the usual secrecy would be retained, Prime Minister John Key told reporters yesterday.
During a press conference he and Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae commented on last week's Taliban insurgency attack in Afghanistan capital Kabul where government buildings were targeted and at least 13 people were killed and 70 injured.
Mr Key and Lt Gen Mateparae provided detailed information about the SAS involvement after media were left joining the dots when two SAS personnel, including Victoria Cross winner Corporal Willie Apiata were photographed at the scene of the fighting.
The SAS fired no shots and were there in a liaison role, Lt Gen Mateparae revealed.
Green MP Keith Locke was pleased by the policy shift.
"The Greens very much welcome the Prime Minister's new openness about what the SAS is doing in our name.
"In our democracy, the armed forces should be as straight with the people as possible, without endangering security or the effectiveness of future operations. The commitment of SAS troops to Afghanistan remains controversial. At least we will now debate the issues involved with more facts to hand."
Mr Key said the change of policy had been under consideration for a while and a briefing for media at the end of the first deployment had been planned. The public would be told when any SAS members were injured or killed.
"Where possible without compromising the safety and security of the operations and personnel involved, New Zealanders deserve to know what our forces are doing overseas on location."
Each situation would be assessed before comment was made.
"In future if they are deployed overseas it may not be appropriate to even disclose their location."
Government and the Defence Force would make the decision.
Lt Gen Mateparae said he was "very comfortable" with the changed policy and the troops understood there was a trend towards greater openness.
Meanwhile, the defence boss said Cpl Apiata, who was photographed by a French freelance photographer moments after he came out of a building where three bodies were found, had been warned to be more careful about disguising his identity in future but had not breached any rules and would not be disciplined.
Cpl Apiata had removed his helmet as he was returning to base after the SAS operation.
Lt Gen Mateparae said the SAS were training the Afghan Ministry of Interior Special Operations Unit (SOU) and were deployed alongside it to provide International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) with information.
He gave details of two successful operations the SAS were involved in -- one where the SAS helped arrest a group that had conducted rocket attacks and were planning more, and another where they thwarted an attack and managed to locate a stash of bombs on the outskirts of Kabul: "The insurgents had scarpered."
SAS soldiers had been fired on during their current deployment but none was injured and they had not fired at anyone.
Last Monday a group of fewer than 20 SAS were involved, but the entire group was on standby. The SOU and SAS deployed to a hotel near the action but did not get involved.
At 3pm the Afghan Army declared the site was cleared and the SAS soldiers were photographed after checking that the fighting was over.
"In summary the actions taken by the SAS and the SOU were... relaying information to headquarters ISAF," Lt Gen Mateparae said.
"Throughout the incident no NZ SAS person fired his weapon, or took part in an assault or cleared any of the occupied buildings. Their role in this particular operation was very limited."
Lt Gen Mateparae said he hoped that the media and Defence could work together better in future and he was disappointed the soldiers' faces were shown. He would not comment on what Cpl Apiata thought of the controversy but said he had seen the photograph.
Mr Key said given his high profile there was always a risk Cpl Apiata would be identified and he was aware of the risks.
He said while the SAS were not in combat roles that did not mean they were not in danger.
"The SAS at any particular time could be involved in a conflict that could see them hurt or killed... they are not there to eat their lunch in Afghanistan."
