The Special Air Service (SAS) deployment to Afghanistan is to be extended for at least another year but with reduced numbers, Prime Minister John Key announced today.
The current deployment was due to end in March, and Mr Key announced today that the stay would be extended for a further 12 months from April.
"The deployment will be a much smaller contingent of approximately 35 personnel, this compares to approximately 70 deployed now," Mr Key said.
"The focus of the SAS will continue to be primarily on partnering the Afghan crisis response unit, ensuring that the work that they've been carrying out to bring that unit up to a high operation standard is completed."
Mr Key said New Zealand would continue to retain full command of the deployment.
"In making this decision, I've been assured by the chief of the Defence Force that any Rugby World Cup commitments will not be compromised by a smaller contingent continuing to be based in Afghanistan."
Mr Key said decisions regarding the wider New Zealand deployment to Afghanistan would be made in the coming months.
Speaking to media yesterday, Mr Key said New Zealand was not being pressured to keep the SAS troops in Afghanistan.
"What I would say is that the SAS are extremely well respected for what they do, so obviously our traditional allies on the ground in Afghanistan, the United States, Britain, Australia and Canada, and others, obviously would love to see New Zealand SAS there because they do a great job and they make a real difference."
