NZ contingent heads to Afghanistan

Another contingent of New Zealand Defence Force personnel will leave for a six-month deployment to Afghanistan tomorrow. The 77 service men and women will fly out of Ohakea Air Force Base.

Three members of the deployment will serve as trainers for the Afghan National Army or as staff officers at the International Security Assistance Force headquarters in Kabul.

The other 74 will serve with the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team in the Bamyan province.

The departure ceremony will be attended by family and friends as well as the Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant-General Jerry Mateparae, and the Chief of Army, Major General Lou Gardiner.