Where they stand on deployment

THE DECISION

A total of about 200 troops will be deployed in Afghanistan for up to 18 months in three rotations of 70.

The 140-strong Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamiyan Province will be replaced gradually by civilian development specialists over five years.

NZAid will visit Afghanistan within four months to assess development plans for agriculture and an ambassador will be posted to Kabul.

THE DEBATE

Parliament held a snap debate yesterday on the decision last week to redeploy about 200 SAS troops to combat duties in Afghanistan in three rotations of 70.

It was a Cabinet decision and no vote was required in the House but support for the deployment has narrowed markedly since 2001 when only the Green Party opposed it.

The new deployment is supported by 63 MPs from National and Act.

Today opposition totals 59 MPs from Labour, the Greens, the Maori Party, United Future and Progressive leader Jim Anderton, whose former Alliance Party split and destroyed itself over the first deployment.

WHERE THEY STAND

Murray McCully, Foreign Minister

"The New Zealand Government is acting in concert with the thinking of the international community, lifting the level of civilian work that is taking place ... lifting the level of development work ... but also lifting the level of military support that goes to ensure that those who carry out the development and governance support work are able to carry out their work safely."

Phil Goff, Labour leader

"It is a mistake to think that Afghanistan can be reconstructed from the top down ... The values of the current Afghan Government also reflect religious and cultural beliefs that most of us would find it hard to sacrifice New Zealand lives to defend."

Keith Locke, Green MP

"The American-led military effort has ... allowed the extremist Taleban to cloak itself in the mantle of nationalism as defenders of Afghanistan against foreign invaders. This has enabled it to recruit new supporters and fighters hand over fist."

Hone Harawira, Maori Party

"Afghanistan is not our war and the SAS should not be going.

"It is no longer a war on terror; it is a war of terror."

Jim Anderton, Progressives

"Our contribution today has to be towards rebuilding, and helping strengthen the Afghan National Army under democratic control following the elections later this week."

Peter Dunne, United Future

Was not in the House but said in a statement that while New Zealand had served well in Afghanistan, he believed that defence efforts should be focused more in our own region.

Act

Did not participate in the debate but supports the SAS deployment.