Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister of Foreign Affairs): Since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August last year, the Government has successfully assisted more than 1,500 people to return to New Zealand. This total includes the nearly 400 individuals in the initial evacuation phase in August and the 1,182 so far that have been able to arrive safely to New Zealand. Operation Whakahokinga Mai was established after initial evacuation efforts were halted to help those in-scope that remained in Afghanistan to travel to New Zealand in such circumstances has been a real achievement and marks one of the largest humanitarian efforts undertaken by any New Zealand Government in recent decades. Many of these people faced grave risks under the Taliban. They have demonstrated great courage and resilience through this ordeal, and we welcome them here to Aotearoa. With nearly 90 percent of those we set out to assist now in New Zealand, winding down the operation is timely.