The first group of people evacuated out of Afghanistan following the dramatic takeover by the Taliban are due to be released from MIQ over the next few days.
The NZDF evacuating people out of Kabul. Photo: Supplied / New Zealand Defence Force
Three hundred and seventy evacuees with links to this country managed to get out safely helped by the New Zealand Defence Force before a terrorist attack at Kabul airport brought New Zealand evacuation flights to an abrupt end.
The evacuees are a mix of New Zealand passport holders plus people who have worked for various New Zealand agencies, including Defence over the last 20 years, and their families.
For many, leaving their home was an abrupt, dangerous and very traumatic and they will need to help them fit into New Zealand life.
Kairullah Azizi from the Afghan Association said the culture shock will be huge for many of them who left with very little notice and are now in a very foreign country.
''A lot of them have just come with the clothes on their back, it was something that was done very quickly and so they will need some support in terms of clothes or food and shoes etc. just to get them through until they are back on their feet.''
He said language, food and even the weather will be the first surprises they face.
''As a community, as Afghans we will have to come and support them for things such as housing, food, and initially we will have to give them support and take them to places, whether it's appointments at the doctors, or appointments at language centres they are going to go to to learn the English language and obviously some sort of support has to be placed around them so they can help themselves and stand up on their own feet afterwards.
Diamond Kazimi is a former refugee from Afghanistan.
He believes, from his own experience as a refugee, the first few months in New Zealand will be hard for the new arrivals.
''Support I think they would really need with housing, education and finding new jobs, but yeah it is going to be pretty challenging for the first couple of months in terms of adapting to the community and society they are going to live in and also adapting to the culture which is one of the major things for some of them. Not for all.''
He is hopeful that once the initial interest in their plight dies down, they will not just be left and forgotten.
''It would be really good or helpful for these people to have ongoing support of the networks, volunteers, community groups to make sure that these people are actually adapting to the society and getting support and services they need in New Zealand for the first few months, even for the first 12 months I guess.''
The President of the Federation of Multicultural Councils, Pancha Narayanan, said now the first group has been in this country for two weeks, the full realisation of what has happened to them will be sinking in.
''What they have left behind, the scenes that they would have seen just before they were leaving. The pain, the trauma, the anger. It is not going to be easy to deal with these emotions immediately. All that New Zealand needs to do is to be extremely kind and compassionate in the early days of their settlement.''
He said a helpline has been set up to assist the new arrivals.
''At the end of that helpline are people that speak the two primary languages (of Afghanistan) Pashto and Dari that anyone can call to seek help or to seek some empathy.''
Chief executive of Refugees As Survivors, a primary mental health and wellbeing service in Auckland, said the Afghan people have come from a conflict zone and they will be disorientated.
She said it will take them some time to re-establish themselves.
''They are operating in a very abnormal situation so they will probably be under quite a lot of stress. They will have quite a lot of remorse about leaving, many people didn't want to leave I am sure. They have chosen to live there and many of them, especially some of the Kiwi nationals I think have been there for many years, so they will be very sad and they will also be sad about having to leave people behind which is going to be a huge issue.''
Immigration New Zealand said Settlement Case Officers will be assigned to each family to help with their ongoing needs.
It said many have had a traumatic experience and will need time before conversations can take place to establish their needs.
Immigration New Zealand general manager refugee and migrant services Fiona Whiteridge said it is committed to making sure those here for the first time will be connected to the support they need in the community.
''The government has arranged temporary accommodation for those who are due to leave managed isolation and quarantine shortly and do not have alternative accommodation options. The government is also continuing to work through options for longer term accommodation, where needed.''