Ceremonies to be held in Afghanistan and NZ

(L to R) Corporal Luke Tamatea (31), Lance Corporal Jacinda Baker (26) and Private Richard Harris (21), all killed in an IED explosion in Afghanistan. Photo / NZDF

Ceremonies for fallen soldiers Corporal Luke Tamatea, Lance Corporal Jacinda Baker and Private Richard Harris will be held in Afghanistan and New Zealand this week.

A Military ramp ceremony will be held for the soldiers at Bagram Air Base tonight, followed by a ceremony at Christchurch Airport on Thursday.

The soldiers will be transported from Afghanistan to Australia by an Australian Defence Force A-340.

A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130 Hercules with escorts will then bring the soldiers back to New Zealand.

"The New Zealand Defence Force acknowledged the support of the Australian Defence Force in bringing the soldiers home," said Lieutenant General Rhys Jones.

"We have received a great many offers of support and expressions of condolence from our friends in the wider international military community, which I would also like to acknowledge."

The NZ Defence Force confirmed all personnel wounded in the incident in Bamiyan Province in Afghanistan on 4 August have returned to New Zealand.

Three are receiving ongoing treatment in hospital.