23 February 2004 Media Statement
New Zealand will continue humanitarian and reconstruction work in Iraq and Afghanistan
In keeping with the government’s commitment to ongoing humanitarian and reconstruction work overseas, Prime Minister
Helen Clark and Minister of Defence Mark Burton today confirmed the next phase in two key Defence Force deployments.
“It is clear, both in Iraq and Afghanistan, that there continues to be a need for the kind of civil reconstruction and
support that New Zealand has offered over the past months. In response to this need, we are taking this early
opportunity to confirm that the New Zealand Defence Force will continue to lead a Provincial Reconstruction Team in
Bamiyan, Afghanistan, for a further twelve months, through to September 2005,” Helen Clark said.
“The engineering detachment of 61 NZDF personnel in Iraq will also undertake a second six-month rotation. This will
complete New Zealand’s deployment to work alongside the United Kingdom and other countries, which are currently engaged
in humanitarian and reconstruction tasks in Southeast Iraq.”
Minister of Defence Mark Burton said that the early confirmation of these deployments was important for forward planning
for the NZDF as a whole.
“As we have always made clear, it is vital to deploy New Zealand’s specialist defence resources where they can be most
useful. Our service men and women have once again proved their international reputation for excellence, and today’s
announcement is part of ensuring that we manage all of our resources so that their contributions around the world
continue to meet that reputation.
“Both Iraq and Afghanistan are challenging environments, and, as is the case with all deployments, the situations will
be continue to be closely monitored to ensure the NZDF can continue to undertake the tasks for which they were
deployed.”
Prime Minister Helen Clark also praised the achievements of both deployments.
“Our service personnel have clearly made a real impact on the lives of local people and communities. In Afghanistan, the
NZDF team have worked effectively to assist the Afghan government to extend its influence beyond Kabul, and built local
confidence through making contact with community leaders, gathering information about their reconstruction needs, and
providing an opportunity to air any concerns. Our personnel have also made excellent contributions to practical
reconstruction projects, such as managing the rebuilding of Bamiyan’s only university.
“In Iraq, our engineers have made important contributions to restoring and establishing core services. They have brought
clean drinking water to 200,000 people for the first time in a generation, refurbished schools, repaired bridges, and
surveyed and mapped mine fields. During this final six-month rotation, the NZDF will continue this vital humanitarian
and reconstruction work.”
Mark Burton said that the second rotation of personnel to Iraq will leave New Zealand in March and return in October.
The final twelve-month deployment to Afghanistan will commence in September.
ENDS