NZ defence team scour bomb site

Lieutenant Tim O'Donnell. Photo / Supplied

A small team of New Zealand Defence Force specialists is looking for forensic evidence at the site in Afghanistan where decorated officer Lieutenant Timothy O'Donnell was killed in a bomb explosion this week.

"We don't know where the bomb was, how it was activated or what strength it was," said the commander, Air Vice-Marshal Peter Stockwell.

Two of the 28-year-old Feilding man's colleagues, Lance Corporal Matthew Ball, 24, and Private Allister Baker, 23, were wounded - along with an Afghan interpreter - when a convoy of 12 soldiers was caught in a bomb explosion in Bamiyan province.

All four were in the leading Humvee vehicle, which was destroyed by an improvised explosive device. Those travelling behind were then attacked with rocket-propelled grenades and gunfire.

Lieutenant O'Donnell was the first death since New Zealand troops moved into Afghanistan seven years ago.

He was farewelled from Afghanistan in a sombre ceremony in Bamiyan township yesterday morning attended by members of the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team, the provincial governor, Habiba Sarabi, and the acting police chief.

It is believed the wounded soldiers will also be on the flight carrying Lieutenant O'Donnell's body - that flight is expected to arrive home on Saturday evening at the earliest.

Last night, Prime Minister John Key said an independent court of inquiry would look at what happened and advise the military on tactics, procedures and equipment.

"We have a lot of people stationed in Bamiyan and we want to make sure they are afforded all the protection we would expect."

- NZPA