13 Jun 2013

Resettled Afghan interpreters move into homes

8:15 am on 13 June 2013

Afghan interpreters and their families are moving to new homes in Hamilton and Palmerston North under a government resettlement programme.

The 30 interpreters were employed by the New Zealand Defence Force in Afghanistan.

In 2012 the Government agreed to allow them to settle in New Zealand due to fears that if they remained in Afghanistan they would be targeted by the Taliban when New Zealand troops withdrew from Bamyan province.

The group, including about 30 children, arrived in April and spent their first weeks at the Refugee Resettlement Centre in South Auckland.

On Thursday the families will move into state houses furnished by Red Cross volunteers.

One of the interpreters, Fayaz Waseel, says the families are nervous but excited about starting their new lives.