The NZDF said in a statement the two were serving with the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team.
They were killed during an incident in the northeast of Bamiyan Province.
A further six NZDF personnel were wounded during the incident and they were evacuated to a military hospital.
Two local security personnel were also killed, and a further 11 personnel, including one civilian, were wounded.
Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Rhys Jones said: "We are deeply saddened by this loss and, on behalf of the entire New Zealand Defence Force, I extend my deepest sympathies to the family, colleagues and friends of the personnel involved."
The NZDF statement said the incident occurred about 7pm yesterday (NZ time), when the troops were assisting local authorities who encountered suspected insurgents near a village south of Do Abe.
Minister of Defence Jonathan Coleman has offered his condolences to the families of the soldiers.
"The thoughts of the Government and the people of New Zealand are with the NZDF today. Our thoughts are especially with the families of those who died, and the families of those who were wounded.
"The work the NZDF undertake in this region is dangerous and they have been well trained to respond to these incidents."
Dr Coleman said the soldiers were responding to local security forces coming under attack and it developed into a serious incident.
Prime Minister John Key also expressed his condolences to the families of the soldiers, saying the incident reinforced "the danger faced daily by our forces as they work tirelessly to restore stability to the province".
"It is with enormous sadness that I acknowledge that these soldiers have paid the highest price.
"My thoughts are with the family and friends of the two brave soldiers killed and also with the families and friends of those injured."
The deaths take the number of New Zealand forces killed in Afghanistan to seven.
from Otago Daily Times
By Matthew Theunissen on Sun, 5 Aug 2012
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