19 Apr 2013

Soldiers due to return from Afghanistan

9:35 am on 19 April 2013

The remaining members of the Defence Force Provincial Reconstruction Team that has served in Afghanistan for 10 years are due back in New Zealand on Saturday.

More than 60 personnel will be met at Christchurch airport by Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman, joint forces commander Air Vice-Marshal Kevin Short and family and friends.

The commanding officer of the team charged with packing up Kiwi Base in Bamyan province, Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Weston, says the departure of the last group of personnel from the base went very well.

The team will remain at the base finalising the return of equipment and supplies to New Zealand and will come home next month.