NZ's first Afghanistan war casualty has been returned to his home town of Feilding, after an emotional ceremony at nearby Ohakea Air Force Base.

The body of Lieutenant Tim O'Donnell landed at Ohakea this afternoon. A full military funeral will be held on Wednesday.

Soldier's body will be returned to his family today.

A hearse carrying the casket of Lieutenant Tim O'Donnell has left Whenuapai Air Base, while two other injured soldiers have been transported to hospital.

The body of a New Zealand soldier killed in Afghanistan is due back in New Zealand today, accompanied by two of his injured comrades.

The body of a Lt Tim O'Donnell and two of his injured comrades will fly back to NZ later today, the Defence Force says.

The body of slain NZ soldier Lieutenant Timothy O'Donnell and his two wounded colleagues may be home as early as Saturday evening.

The body of Lieutenant Tim O'Donnell and his two injured colleagues have been moved to Bagram airbase and will be evacuated to NZ.

Tim O'Donnell grew up dreaming of being a soldier. He first revealed his military aspirations aged 4, in his grandmother's arms. She encouraged him by giving him an Army helmet.

The attack in which Lieutenant Timothy O'Donnell died yesterday was in a particularly troubled part of Afghanistan, where the mountainous terrain lends itself to ambushes by Taleban insurgents and criminals.

The identities of two soldiers injured in an Afghanistan insurgent attack overnight have been revealed.

Labour leader Phil Goff knows the pain of the grieving O'Donnell family - his nephew was killed in Afghanistan three years ago.

The New Zealand soldier killed in Afghanistan overnight was a decorated officer who had been in the army for five years.

New Zealand's first combat death in Afghanistan is not a reason to withdraw our troops from the country, Prime Minister John Key says.

Maggie Tait, who visited Bamiyan in May, reflects on life on the New Zealand base there in the wake of its first combat death.