Mapp Wayne: General Debate 
Mapp Wayne: General Debate 
[Volume:665;Page:12988] 
Hon Dr WAYNE MAPP (Minister of Defence) 
: 
 Today we are all saddened to hear of the death of Lieutenant Timothy O’Donnell killed in action in Afghanistan and of course of his comrades who are wounded. It was right that earlier this afternoon the House unanimously passed a motion reflecting on that. 
The reason I have taken this call is that the National members will be looking at New Zealand’s role in the provincial reconstruction team why we are there what we intend to achieve and how it serves our own security. This House across the political spectrum has supported the provincial reconstruction team since it was first deployed in 2003. Its mission is clear. It is to help rebuild the province of Bamian so that the people within that province can be free from the extremism that clouded their future through to 2001. 
Let me be clear on this: we are in Afghanistan because we are defending New Zealanders and all free people against the evil of international terrorism. It is worth noting that several New Zealanders have lost their lives in the terrorist events that were directly related to al-Qaeda in New York London Bali and Jakarta. Under the Taliban Afghanistan had become the haven for al-Qaeda terrorism. The United Nations in a series of resolutions has approved the actions of the international community to enable Afghanistan to redevelop and to take its proper place among nations. That is so that it will not become a haven for terrorism. That affects all of us. 
Our soldiers now for more than 7 years have been working alongside the people of Afghanistan in Bamian. A number of people in this House including the Leader of the Opposition have visited Bamian. They know full well how the vast majority of people in that province have welcomed our presence. I noted myself last year that children in the town of Bamian would wave at our soldiers 7 years later. That says something about the way we are received. 
But it is also clear and we have had a stark reminder of it in the last 24 hours that this place is still fraught with risk. Even in Bamian Province not all places are safe and secure. The north-east part which is riven by ethnicity and ethnic division has proven to be problematic. We go there because we want those people to be part of the wider civil society within the province. That has been difficult which has been proven on a number of occasions. 
I want to briefly mention the role of the Defence Force and more particularly the character of our men and women in uniform. Their professionalism and their work with the local people have brought real credit to themselves and indeed to our nation. They follow in a proud and long tradition forged over a period of time. In this new era they serve our nation proudly drawing on the traditions of the past but building on the concepts of current conflicts. 
Let us be clear about what terrorism does. It has reached out beyond Afghanistan itself across the world and it strikes at innocent civilians. Today is a time to reflect on the price of freedom. There is always a price: readiness vigilance and commitment. We also know today that there is a further price and that has proven to be the life of Timothy O’Donnell. In this Chamber we owe our freedom to him and to those members of the New Zealand Defence Force who serve our country.