12 Oct 2009

More NZ troops leave for Afghanistan

8:40 pm on 12 October 2009

Another deployment of New Zealand troops and police leaves on Monday for Afghanistan.

Taskgroup Crib, with 145 personnel, is the 15th rotation since September 2003 to serve in the provincial reconstruction team in the Bamiyan province.

Colonel Martin Dransfield says a major priority will be handing over the lead security role there to Afghani police, many of whom have been trained by New Zealand soldiers in the past seven years.

Colonel Dransfield says other priorities include health, educational, agricultural, flood protection and roading projects.

Defence Minister Wayne Mapp and Police Commissioner Howard Broad will be among those at Ohakea to farewell the taskgroup.