Newshub can reveal taxpayer dollars used to pay for a military clearance operation in Afghanistan were temporarily frozen over fears it could end up in the hands of the Taliban.
The Bamyan Ranges Clearance Project, removing weapons and explosives from five firing ranges used by our Defence Force, has finished early, but was very nearly scrapped altogether.
Inch by inch and protected by blast-proof suits deminers navigate the firing ranges of Afghanistan.
Looking for unexploded ordnance left behind by the New Zealand Defence Force in Bamyan Provence.
Mohammad Hamid Wardak DMAC Senior Manager says it is dangerous work.
"If you touch or want to see more about them and investigate more about this item it will explode believe me we have many accidents every day in Afghanistan," Wardak told Newshub.
Digging a metre into the ground is a dangerous job for the Organization for Mine Clearance and Afghan Rehabilitation contractors.
A total of 1,055 items were found and destroyed across our five firing ranges in Bamyan province.
Seventy of which are of an ammunition type used by the NZDF Provincial Reconstruction Team.
Those ranges are Yakawalong, Dragon Valley, Beersheba, Alamein and Romero
They are now deemed safe.
Wing Commander Darryl Cockroft a Bamyan Clearance Project Sponsor said they found high explosive grenades, 40mm grenades and high explosive mortar rounds.
Newshub can reveal that danger could've remained buried after the Taliban take over of Afghanistan in August, last year.
Female miners were removed from their jobs after a Taliban directive.
And concerns were raised over financial agreements with a government agency, controlled by the Taliban.
"I think nothing has changed during the change of Government, the system is the same," Wardak said.
In the days after the Taliban takover our Defence Force considered "an immediate and permanent cessation."
It also sought assurances all of the $6 million for the contract to clear the ranges "will end up in the hands of the contractor and not the Taleban.".
All funding was blocked for six weeks until a secure banking arragnement was found.
The project has now finished five months early - with thousands of men, women and children in the region going through a risk education programme.
Hasamedin Sediqi, Firing Range Project Manager says the ranges are safe and have been handed over to the people safely.
Returning the land that our forces occupied for a decade back to the people of Bamyan.
This story was amended to reflect 1055 items were destroyed, 70 of which are of an ammunition type used by the NZDF Provincial Reconstruction Team.
