Slain New Zealand soldier named

The New Zealand soldier killed in Afghanistan was a 28-year old from Feilding who had previously been honoured for his valour during a skirmish in East Timor.

Lieutenant Tim O'Donnell, 28, died when his three-vehicle patrol was attacked with explosives, rocket propelled grenades and gunfire in north-east Bamiyan Province overnight.

Having just lost her son, Lt O'Donnell's mother sent her love to the families of those who fought beside him.

Prime Minister John Key, who talked to the mother this morning, said he was impressed by the stance she took.

"It showed great bravery and courage on her part," he said from Vanuatu where he is attending the annual Pacific Islands Forum.

Mr Key said he expressed his sympathy to the woman.

She expressed her own sympathy – to the families of the two soldiers injured in the attack that killed her son.

Lt O'Donnell was one of up to a dozen people in a three-vehicle convoy on patrol in the northeast of the Bamiyan province when they were attacked by rockets and light arms fire.

The area is known for insurgency.

The patrol was attacked less than half an hour after leaving a village.

Lt O'Donnell was killed and two others suffered burns and broken bones.

They were members of New Zealand's Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) stationed in Bamiyan.

The force works on maintaining security in Bamiyan Province, and carries out frequent patrols throughout the area.

Mr Key said the attack was sophisticated and complex.

"It's quite clear this [area of Bamiyan] is a place where there has been a heightened level of activity – a degree of anxiety – and we need to monitor that situation carefully."

The injured soldiers were getting medical treatment and would then be evacuated to Germany.

Mr Key said New Zealand troops would remain in Bamiyan despite the soldiers death.

"It's not my view that we should withdraw from Bamiyan quicker as a result of this event."

A review of tactics and procedures would be carried out and the situation would continue to be monitored, Mr Key said.

Bamiyan was an example of an area where control could be handed back to the Afghan people.

"We have been working to make that a reality. I think we owe it to the thousands of New Zealanders who have served in Bamiyan to see the job done and be in a position where we can hand back control," Mr Key said.

The government has announced that the PRT will extend its secondment until September 2011.

The fatality was New Zealand's first combat death in Afghanistan since its troops were deployed there in 2003.

The man would have been in Bamiyan when Mr Key visited in May this year.

The prime minister will remain in Vanuatu for the rest of the week as scheduled.

Labour leader Phil Goff offered his condolences to the families of the soldiers.

"It is a sad reminder that those who serve our country overseas in the New Zealand Defence Force put their lives at risk."

Greens defence spokesman Keith Locke said he felt great sadness at the death of a New Zealand soldier.

"We join with all New Zealanders in mourning the loss today."

The provincial reconstruction team had been doing very good work and it was sad one of its soldiers had died, he said.