Kiwi troops depart for Afghanistan

Today a contingent of NZ Defence Force (NZDF) personnel will be farewelled at Burnham Military Camp before departing for a six month deployment to Afghanistan.

The majority of the troops will make up the seventeenth rotation to serve in the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), based at Bamyan Province. The others will work in roles within the International Stabilisation Force Headquarters based in Kabul and the National Support Element based in Bagram.

Minister of Defence Hon Dr Wayne Mapp and Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae will be there to farewell the contingent.

When: 5am, Monday 4 October 2010

Where: Burnham Military Camp, Christchurch

What: Farewell for the seventeenth rotation of the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team, and supporting personnel. Approx 99 NZDF personnel will depart on this date, with the remaining 21 personnel due to depart a few days later.