The government has promised to send a Hercules aircraft and around 40 troops into Afghanistan to evacuate those in desperate need, including 53 New Zealanders.
Cabinet ministers have also agreed to take in a group of Afghans who've previously assisted New Zealand agencies, as well as their immediate family members - the numbers are likely to top 200.
Taliban fighters swept into the capital Kabul overnight, seizing the presidential palace and declaring victory.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she has grave concerns about the deteriorating situation.
New Zealand previously resettled about 40 Afghan interpreters and their families in 2012.
In the past few weeks, a further 40 or so Afghans have sought assistance from the government, but would not have been eligible under the previous criteria.
Today's decision means they can now come to New Zealand. Ardern insists the government moved as quickly as it could. The operation is expected to last a month.
