Updated 8.43pm: Australia's Prime Minister has paid tribute to fallen ANZAC soldiers this afternoon, laying a wreath alongside New Zealand Prime Minister John Key at the Auckland War Memorial.

Trans-Tasman relations and romance have been on the agenda for two Prime Ministers in Auckland.

Tony Abbott and John Key have addressed the Australia-New Zealand Leadership Forum at the city's War Memorial Museum.

John Key has spoken of the need for even closer economic relations, saying New Zealand "wants and needs" Australia.

He's also taken aim at those opposing the Trans Pacific Partnership, saying it'll be a valuable asset to both countries.

Tony Abbott opened with a joke, saying his close relationship with New Zealand began when he met his Kiwi wife.

He's also spoken of his desire to see Australia achieve New Zealand's levels of economic growth.

"Economic growth in Australia today is 2.7%, not quite as good as you've got it John but certainly better than a year ago."

Fighting ISIS

The Foreign Ministers of Australia and New Zealand have put fighting terror groups at the top of their bilateral talks in Auckland today.

Their meeting comes hot on the heels of the announcement that 143 New Zealand troops will be sent to Iraq to help train local troops in the fight against the Islamic State.

Australia has some 600 troops already in the Middle East.

Julie Bishop says she and Murray McCully have discussed the domestic terror threat, and the steps each country is prepared to take to defeat ISIL at its source.

"We also discussed the steps that New Zealand is taking to be part of a coalition to stop these brutal terror organisations."

She's emphasising the Australian troops are in the Middle East at the invitation of the Iraqi government, and any decision on more will be made with Iraq.

Leadership cloud

Tony Abbott's in New Zealand with a long white cloud hovering over his future amid speculation there'll be another move against his leadership when he returns to Canberra.

While he and Treasurer Joe Hockey insist only voters have the right to remove the Liberal leadership team, the numbers are mounting against him.

More Liberal MPs are understood to have joined the 39 who supported the unsuccessful spill motion against him earlier this month.