War-struck Syria is about to get help protecting its citizens, from the New Zealand Fire Service.

One of our urban search and rescue experts will travel to Turkey and Jordan at the end of this month, to spend four months training the White Helmets civil defence organisation.

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne said our fire service learned a lot from responding to the Christchurch Earthquake, with their work winning them UN recognition.

"But it's good to see that we're able to put the lessons from that and the experience gained to some practical use, and help another nation that's in a very difficult situation albeit because of the ravages of war."

However, Mr Dunne said this doesn't mean we're edging towards a combat role.

"This is not getting involved in the fighting of the conflict, but helping the recovery and the reconstruction after the events," he said.