Government to talk to NZDF about Hit & Run allegations

Authors Nicky Hager, left, and Jon Stephenson during the launch of their book, Hit & Run, New Zealand Herald photograph by Mark Mitchell

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says her Government will look further into allegations about SAS actions in Afghanistan.

Labour, New Zealand First and the Green Party all called for an inquiry into the allegations, outlined in the book Hit & Run, by journalists Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson.

Hit & Run claims six civilians were killed and 15 were injured in a 2010 raid by the NZSAS in Baghlan province. The Defence Force rejected allegations of wrongdoing, and then Prime Minister Bill English said an inquiry was not needed.

Asked today if her Government would hold an inquiry, Ardern said her party had expressed strong concerns about the allegations.

"That is something that I hope over time to engage with Defence over that issue. We said that was an opportunity we would take up when we were in office.

"We shared the view that we certainly needed to look into that further. We shared a view that Defence didn't share what was required at the time. And now we are in the position to work more closely with Defence, we will be doing that."

English made his decision not to hold an inquiry after viewing some of the available footage from the 2010 SAS raid, dubbed Operation Burnham.

Last week new Defence Minister and NZ First deputy leader Ron Mark gave a speech to an RSA event, and said civilians that scrutinised the military didn't realise the pressure soldiers were under.

"For the private soldier with a rifle on the ground at that moment, at that time, given the rules of engagement, given the political focus, given the focus of the media both national and international - and some of it we have seen recently - I don't recall any conflict that we have ever deployed to as a nation where the actions taken by a lance corporal on the ground, actions taken in a nanosecond based on what that individual is confronted with...could be pulled apart and dissected over the next two months, two years, 10 years," Mark, a former soldier, said.

"Where other people who have never worn the uniform...make judgment upon that individual's decision at that point in time."