"Our work meant we were always on the front line, and more of a target for terrorists," says Hassan.
"Back home we had all of our family and friends, but we weren't safe. It's not safe because there is no justice, there is no rule of law."
It was a desire to protect his family which compelled Hassan to pursue moving to New Zealand.
Since arriving, Zahra has retrained as a midwife and Hassan has started a tiling and waterproofing business.
Hassan also volunteers as secretary of the Waikato Refugee Forum, committee member of Hamilton's Afghanistan cultural association and vice-president of the National Refugee Association of New Zealand.
"If I felt safe in Afghanistan, I wouldn't have left my country," he says.
"But now my country is New Zealand. Now we are New Zealanders, we are going to try our best to be good New Zealanders and be good members of society."
The citizenship ceremony welcomed 108 new Kiwis from countries including Colombia, India, South Africa and Sri Lanka, and brought together five Afghani families who arrived in New Zealand at the same time.
"We celebrated being here for five years together," says Hassan.
"We arrived together and now we are all citizens together. It was a chance to evaluate what we bring to New Zealand [society], and what we can do in the future socially, economically, and politically to serve our country.
"If we are going to stay here, we must bring something good and positive to the community."