Kiwi soldiers' calmness under fire reassures TVNZ news crew

A TVNZ reporter shot at while on patrol with a bomb squad in Afghanistan says there was no need to be afraid because the New Zealand soldiers were so calm under fire.

Michael Parkin, 28, and cameraman Blair Martin, 26, were travelling with the bomb disposal experts as part of an assignment covering the work of New Zealand soldiers in Afghanistan.

The patrol was checking for improvised explosive devices (IEDs) along a road just outside Khost, near the border with Pakistan, when it was attacked by an unknown number of gunmen.

The convoy had already been struck by an IED, blowing up a rear tyre on one vehicle, which had to be towed back to base.

While the IED hit came as "no surprise", Parkin said the gunfire was a "bit of a shock".

It was quickly followed by exploding mortar rounds which landed 250m away.

"They were incredibly inaccurate ... the mortar rounds were at a bit of a distance but there was always a risk of an RPG [rocket-propelled grenade] being fired at the vehicle which would do a lot of damage."

Asked by a colleague whether he was scared, Parkin said he was reassured by the reaction of the Kiwi soldiers, who were calm and well prepared.

The two TVNZ staff were last night safe in Kandahar and will return home this week.