New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa
Media Release
Wednesday 14 April 2004
New Defence Personnel For Afghanistan
Ninety six New Zealand Defence Force personnel depart Christchurch on Thursday for a six month tour of duty with the
Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Afghanistan. The flight is scheduled to depart Christchurch at 7.30 am, Thursday
15 April 2004.
New Zealand first committed troops to the PRT in the Bamyan Province of Afghanistan in September 2003. The PRT has been
making a significant contribution to the rebuilding of the Bamyan infrastructure including the recent reopening of the
Bamyan University.
The PRT is designed to assist the Afghan Transitional Government extend its influence beyond Kabul, and promote
reconstruction in Bamyan and assess civil, political and military reform efforts through community engagement.
ENDS