Defence and Foreign Affairs officials appear to be on notice to keep their political masters better informed.

The opposition's accused the Prime Minister of misleading the public over a top level defence meeting held in the United States last week about measures needed to defeat ISIS.

Mr Key initially called the meeting a regular one, despite it also being attended by Barack Obama.

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee is making it clear he and Mr Key should have been better kept in the loop by Defence and MFAT.

"Well I think you could perhaps be able to work out that those agencies know that this is not something that should ever happen again."