A New Zealand soldier has been injured in East Timor.

He was hit in the leg by a dart fired by a youth while out on a routine patrol in Hera, near Dili late yesterday. The dart hit the soldier in the thigh, causing a superficial injury. He has been treated by a medical officer before returning to his platoon.

More than 180 defence and police personnel have been deployed there as part of the international stabilisation force.

Seven young people have been detained following the incident.

Senior National Officer in Dili, Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy Harker says it is a minor incident, and the soldier will be back on patrol in the next 24 hours.

Meanwhile, claims Australia helped manufacture a crisis in East Timor to insert troops are being roundly condemned by our Defence Minister.

Phil Goff is responding to the recent media speculation at a Parliamentary Select Committee this morning. Naming political columnist Chris Trotter as a culprit, he us scathing of the allegation. He says it is bizarre, absolutely inaccurate , and close to slanderous.

Phil Goff says but for the presence of New Zealand and Australian troops, blood would be flowing in the streets of Dili.

The Defence Minister has also explained why there was an apparent delay in New Zealand troops heading to East Timor to help settle civil strife.

It took more than three days from the Government making the commitment of forces until they arrived in Dili.

Mr Goff has told a Select Committee meeting this morning New Zealand forces were held in Townsville because of logistics and the need to fit in with the Australian deployment.

Vice Chief of the Defence Force, Air Vice-Marshal David Banfield also says the deployment to Dili was done as fast as was possible.