17 Oct 2013

Injured Afghan interpreter still waiting on visa

6:10 am on 17 October 2013

An Afghan interpreter, injured during an attack that killed a New Zealand soldier, is still waiting for a New Zealand visa almost a year after being told he could come here.

The interpreter, known as AJ, was in a New Zealand convoy ambushed by insurgents in Bamiyan province in August 2010.

AJ's family says he was told he was entitled to the same resettlement package offered to other interpreters, and is frustrated the process has taken so long.

The family says the defence force didn't give him enough help for his psychological injuries, and he sought treatment in Germany, where he is still waiting for a visa.

But the Government says the process has been handled appropriately and officials are now preparing for AJ's arrival in New Zealand in the next few weeks.