Rotorua man recognised for service

A former Rotorua man who played a key role in the New Zealand Army's operations in Afghanistan has been recognised for his service.

New York-based Lieutenant Colonel Peter Hall was appointed a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to the New Zealand Defence Force in the Queen's Birthday Honours.

Lieutenant Colonel Hall served as the senior military advisor and commanding officer of the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction team in Bamyan Province, Afghanistan from April 15 to September 30, 2012.

Throughout this deployment he oversaw the execution of the team's mission to assist the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan by undertaking reconstruction tasks and assisting with the provision of security in Bamyan Province.

He has been described as somebody who demonstrated outstanding, calm and professional leadership in the aftermath of incidents on August 4 and August 19, 2012 in which five New Zealanders were killed in action and a further eight wounded.

He ensured that the team retained its operational effectiveness as a fully functioning and task-worthy military organisation despite suffering significant casualties within a very short period of time.

He was also responsible for planning and executing the successful redeployment of New Zealand forces from the forward operating bases at Romero and Do Abe, located in the North-East of Bamyan Province, to the main New Zealand base at Bamyan.

The success of the operation was due to Lieutenant Colonel Hall's meticulous planning and co-ordination of the movement of various elements of the reconstruction team with supporting coalition forces.

His father Victor Hall, who still lives in Rotorua, said he was very proud of his son's achievements.

"We were both quite excited when we heard he was to be appointed a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

"I don't think it was something he was entirely expecting, I didn't see it coming."

Mr Hall said his son was educated at St Michael's Catholic Primary School and Edmund Rice College, now known as John Paul College.

Lieutenant Colonel Hall has strong iwi ties to Te Arawa, Tuwharetoa and Tuhoe on his father's side and Ngapuhi and Ngai Tahu on his mother's side.

He currently lives in New York with his wife Suan.