it's the stuff movies are made of ` a story of hope, loyalty and promises. He's my older brother, and I love him. Really the brother I never had. Two men... worlds apart. So there was a price on your head? So there was a price on your head? Yes, yes, yes. A tour of duty that changed two lives. So, he had your back? > So, he had your back? > Yes, he did. And the redemption of Pitcairn. I am swimming in the bay where the Bounty was sunk. Rocked by scandal. There's people that did bad things, but there's people that do bad things everywhere. A young victim offers a strange hope. Well, I still love the place, you know. Whoa! (LAUGHS) Copyright TVNZ Access Services 2013 Kia ora, I'm Miriama Kamo. It was a tour of duty that changed two lives forever. When Andrew Berry, a Kiwi cop, served in Afghanistan four years ago, he made a promise to his interpreter that he wouldn't leave him behind. That promise meant the difference between life and death. The Taliban were out to kill. They'd put a price on the interpreters' heads. Now, add a bright, brown-eyed 3-year-old boy with a cleft palate and you have a magic story of trust, honour and humanity. GENTLE GUITAR MUSIC In life... there are friendships. And then there are friendships forged in the battlefields of Afghanistan. Abbas is really the brother I never had. GENTLE MUSIC CONTINUES Abbas was critical to what the NZ police were doing in Afghanistan. I came to depend upon him. I gave Abbas my word that I would do everything I could to help him get to NZ. Why not just leave him there? Why not just leave him there? Because he's a mate. Don't do that. TENSE MUSIC This story of trust, honour and brotherhood began in Afghanistan in 2009. Here we are at the old prison overlooking the Bamiyan Valley. Andrew Berry, a cop from South Auckland, was stationed in Bamiyan Province, and Abbas Bagheri was his interpreter. So he had your back? Yes, he did. You trusted him with your life? You trusted him with your life? < Yep. Abbas has lived in Afghanistan all his life. Who better to know what's right, what doesn't look good, where you should go, where you shouldn't go, who you need to meet and who you should steer clear of? Steering clear of trouble meant staying away from these guys ` the Taliban. Taliban, they're brutal people. Just they are thinking about killing, destroying. Danger is everywhere in Afghanistan, but it was the best of humanity, not the worst, that changed Andrew and Abbas's relationship forever. I saw something in Andrew. He helped and he rescued the life of a kid by the name of Tamin. He was three years old, and helped him to` for his surgery on his lip. And he saved his life. For this reason he is my brother. This is the little boy in question. He lived here ` a mud hut in the mountains of Afghanistan. Tamin was born with a cleft palate. High altitude and the constant risk of pneumonia meant his deformity would ultimately end in death. He was small, dirty and dusty, and when Andrew saw Tamin, he changed. Totally changed, totally changed. He wanted to cry. And after two days, Andrew Berry came to me and he told Abbas, 'Can you find for me Tamin and also his family?' I asked, 'Why? Why? Why are you looking for him? And what is your business with him?' He is a kid, he's 3 years, and he told that, 'I want to pay money and I want to send him to hospital for surgery on his lip.' And I do my best to find it, and we did. We arrived at this village where Andrew has made it his pet project to get some treatment for this little kid with a cleft lip. Eager to help the boy, Andrew, a father himself, raised enough money to get Tamin and his family to Kabul for treatment. This is the van that they're going to be travelling in. He also paid for a private French hospital to carry out the lifesaving surgery. Good luck. But the operation was never done. Tamin's father, suffering terminal cancer, spent the money on opium. So the father used the money for opium? Yes. Yes. Yes. He used some opium, you know, for keep himself out of pain, you know. You weren't happy? You weren't happy? No, no, no, I was upset. Unwilling to abandon the boy, a second rescue mission was organised. And here is enough money for accommodation. > This time Abbas would make the dangerous journey to Kabul, ensuring the life-saving operation was carried out and the money was not wasted on opium. If there are any problems, my phone number and your phone number are on there, and the doctor or anybody can call us anytime. How special was it, what Andrew did? Excellent. You know, about the job that Andrew did for that family, it's beyond of description, beyond of any explanation, you know. Amazing. The operation gave Tamin the promise of a future. The opportunity to help that family was the very best thing that happened to me in Afghanistan. How much did it cost? How much did it cost? About $5000. $5000 for a stranger? It wasn't all my money. (CHUCKLES) Money well spent. Andrew Berry's generosity had saved Tamin and won the hearts and minds of the Bamiyan people. But Abbas' safety wasn't guaranteed. The very nature of his work interpreting for the NZ Police meant he was in mortal danger. We had spent time talking to very senior members of the Taliban, um, and Abbas was a marked man. The capture of this senior Taliban leader and the decision to use Abbas as the interpreter had effectively sealed his fate. We put him in harm's way, I put him in harm's way for the job. It would be... It would be unforgivable to then, us all to go home to the safety of our country and leave him there, having put him in harm's way. OMINOUS MUSIC The Taliban had put a price on Abbas' head. A deadly race was now on to honour a promise and get him to safety. The reality is he is at risk. And he wants to leave. I desperately want him out of there. UNSETTLING MUSIC HELICOPTER WHIRRS It is an understatement to call an interpreter's work dangerous. On the job, they usually hide behind balaclavas to protect their identity and their lives. Some of those interpreters have had death notices. Abbas became a marked man the moment he revealed his identity, his face, to this captured Taliban leader. That was reality, yes. That was reality because that man was shadow governor of Taliban, and he was a big man, big fish for Taliban. Were you scared? Were you scared? Yes, yes, yes. > He was a scary man, yeah. I wanted to finish the interview and go back home. (CHUCKLES) Why do that interview for Andrew and put your life at risk? My brother... (CHUCKLES) He's my brother and anything that he says, yes, as an older brother, I have respect him. UNSETTLING MUSIC It wasn't their job to soldier, but these interpreters were targets. Hated by the Taliban, branded treacherous collaborators, capture would have meant certain death. Without any question, without any doubts, they kill. So there was a price on your head? So there was a price on your head? Yes, yes, yes. A reward for killing you? A reward for killing you? Yes, yes, yeah. Taliban has this rule, yeah. The price of an interpreter is more than the price of a soldier that is in the coalition forces. Which raises the question, why would anyone risk their life working as an interpreter? I was growing up in fear, killing, escaping. I didn't want these things happen to the next generation, my... my son, and everything that we do, we do for our children, for our family. You know, and for this reason I wanted to make good life for my son. But it was inevitable the coalition forces would eventually leave. And when they did, the good life was over. We were living in fear. Sometimes I wanted to go from Bamiyan to Kabul. We have to go through the Taliban area, you know, and sometimes they had checkpoints and they stop the vehicle, take out all of the passengers. And they were searching them, that if they found, for example, cell phone, that is your cell phone, if they found any word in English, definitely they suspect on you. Or if they found any pen on your pocket, they say that you are working with coalition forces. So the Taliban would have killed you? So the Taliban would have killed you? Yes, yes, absolutely, absolutely, not me, anybody that's worked, or, for example, had cooperation with coalition forces, you know. So your wife? So your wife? Same, same, same. Your child? Your child? Yes, yes, yes. So you had to get out? So you had to get out? Yeah, we had to. Desperate to get Abbas, his wife and son to safety, Andrew Berry began lobbying the Minister of Immigration and submitting residency applications on their behalf. I was acting for a mate. And I'd given a very good friend my word. Late last year, our government announced it was pulling the Army and Police interpreters out of Afghanistan. It was the best Christmas present Andrew could hope for, but he would have to wait another five nail-biting months to be reunited with his mate. I would have struggled with the morality of the decision if the government had decided not to bring the interpreters back to NZ. It would have been unjustifiable to me. Abbas filmed this video at his home just two weeks ago. Freedom, and a chance of a new beginning in NZ, meant leaving behind his house, his car, nearly everything he owned. We only need a few more days of luck, a few more days of the worst not happening, and then he will be out. How much are you looking forward to giving him a hug? Can't wait. It will be a very special day. Emotional? Emotional? Yeah, I think so. It's been a long wait? It'll be worth it. GENTLE GUITAR MUSIC Touching down in NZ last week, Abbas and his family were amongst 94 interpreters, their wives and children to arrive in Whenuapai. But it is important to appreciate that you are amongst friends. For Abbas' wife, Sadika, and his son, Mohammed, the feeling was best summed up by one word ` relief. When we on board the plane, just... I felt happiness. You make it sound like you won Lotto? You make it sound like you won Lotto? Yes. (LAUGHS) Something like that. Home is now the Mangere Refugee Centre, where Abbas has begun his new life as a new Kiwi. And how about you? You're happy? And how about you? You're happy? Oh, uh, I'm flying right now. (LAUGHS) Really? Really? Yes. Yes. You're missing your mate, though? You're missing your mate, though? Yeah, yeah, yes. Andrew? > Andrew? > Well, he's not my mate; he's my brother. Actually, he's my brother. He's my older brother, and I love him, I love him. You missing him? > You missing him? > Yes, too much, too much. GENTLE GUITAR MUSIC It has been four years since Abbas last saw Andrew. ...and the main responsibility that I have to translate for. Residency might have been a Lotto win, but this was the real prize. GENTLE MUSIC CONTINUES (WHISPERS) If something had happened to him and I had not kept my word to Abbas to try to bring him to NZ, then I'd never have forgiven myself. Well done. NZ is a great country. I feel comfortable here, I enjoy here, and for this reason, I say that this is a home. TRUMPETER PLAYS 'LAST POST' On a day when NZ was remembering those that had made the ultimate sacrifice, these unlikely brothers are united again and focused on a future full of promise. The promise to bring him here doesn't stop when he sets foot on the tarmac. When does the promise stop? I don't think it does. I think it's a friendship that... I want to have. It's a... you know, the kind of guy that I want to be mates with for the rest of my life. I don't think it ever stops. Isn't that the best? Andrew Berry won the Sir Peter Blake Leadership Award in 2006. Now, as to that promise, he has since left the police to start his own business. and hopes one day to employ Abbas. OK, it's a wonderful, romantic notion ` the mutiny on the Bounty. We take you there next. It's pretty cool. I am swimming in the bay where the Bounty was sunk with the great-great-great-great-granddaughter of Fletcher Christian. Yes. (LAUGHS) Ah, what's this? A little discussion. Two entrenched views. A real-estate website. Oh, he wants a new home. Ah, but she has some ideas about renovating. Either way, I'm thinking they don't have a lot of spare time to get their loan, right? That's why ANZ has more home-loan specialists than any other bank, and they'll come to you. My money's on the renovation. Welcome back. Pitcairn Island is about as isolated as it gets ` 5000km out into the Pacific, halfway to South America. But it's a British rock, surrounded by pristine waters and iced with lush, tropical forest. The world and time has pretty much bypassed Pitcairn ever since the Bounty mutineers landed there more than 200 years ago. Until, until, that is, the child sex abuse scandal 10 years ago. Now Pitcairn is fighting its way back, fighting for a place in the world. Here's Ross Coulthart. ADVENTUROUS MUSIC We're on our way to one of the most remote and mythologised places on the planet ` Pitcairn Island. Can it survive into the 21st century? ADVENTUROUS MUSIC CONTINUES Pitcairn Island rises from the Pacific Ocean, 8000km from Australia. It's about as far away as you can get from almost anywhere. But with a population of 54, to survive, the island needs new blood. We've got an aging population, and so within the next 10 years, we don't have enough people in the workforce to run the island. Jacqui Christian, a direct descendent of the Bounty mutineer Fletcher Christian, is leading an image makeover to bring tourists and new residents to Pitcairn. You're going to go back to Pitcairn Island. What's going through your mind? Oh, I'm looking forward to it. You know, just looking forward to going home. But you're apprehensive about this venture, aren't you? Well, yeah. Mainly because it's really the only thing we have. We've got to build tourism to create a future for Pitcairn, because we need to attract young people home. What's your fear? Failing. (CHUCKLES) JAZZY MUSIC For many, the attraction of Pitcairn is the story of Fletcher Christian, who fell in love with a Tahitian princess more than 200 years ago. Fletcher led the mutiny on the Bounty against the notorious Captain Bligh. The majority of the Bounty crew stayed in Tahiti, but Fletcher knew that if Bligh got back to England, obviously they would look in Tahiti for him, so he and eight others and their 12 women and six Tahitian men went in search for Pitcairn Island. And when they eventually found it two months later, they ran the ship aground and burned it so that they couldn't be found and no one could escape and dob them in. The remains of the Bounty are still here. Whereabouts is the Bounty wreck? Whereabouts is the Bounty wreck? Um, just below you. MID-TEMPO ROCK MUSIC It's pretty cool. I'm swimming in the bay where the Bounty was sunk with the great-great-great-great-granddaughter of Fletcher Christian. great-great-great-great-granddaughter of Fletcher Christian. Yes. It's absolutely stunning, Jacqui. The water is so clear. I reckon you could see 120-130 feet. Great history, great fishing, great diving. < Is that your hope? That it might bring people here? The, sort of, intrigue. Yeah, well, the Bounty is interesting. It's an interesting story ` a bit of romance, a bit of rebellion. So people like to come and see the place where it all finished up. Wreck-diving is one part of Jacqui's plan to attract visitors. She's also begun sailing tours from French Polynesia. Tourists stay with the locals in their homes. < What is Pitcairn life like? What happens? What's the daily rhythm of life? Well, I guess the thing is, there isn't one. Living on a South Pacific island has long held a romantic appeal to the outside world. REPORTER: They don't drink or smoke, and there is no television. The people come together in extended families and with their neighbours to eat and talk. Here, the generation gap is meaningless. But the awful truth was that generations of young girls, like Jacqui, were routinely raped. Without wanting to upset you, Jacqui, what happened to you as a child? Well, I was one of seven women that testified against child abuse. < And yet you're giving this opportunity back to the very island that treated you so badly? Well, I still love the place, you know. There's people that did bad things, but there's people that do bad things everywhere. Um, and I'd really like to create a future for Pitcairn. I'd like to think that in another 200 years there's a community still growing and thriving there. MAN: Whoever comes through that door is a guest. That door is not closed to anyone, anyone. This is a place where people can come sit down together, mingle, talk, fun, and it's been great. It's worked out very good. Former mayor Steve Christian is one of the half a dozen islanders convicted of sex offences. He served just over two years at a prison built on the island after the trial. There's a plan to turn the prison into a guest house for tourists. Steve's now helping Jacqui turn around the image of Pitcairn. I feel it's time we just put that crap behind us now, because if we all want to live on this island, we've all got to pull together, otherwise we're gonna sink. What do you need? I mean, how`? What do you need? I mean, how`? People? (LAUGHS) What do you need? I mean, how`? People? (LAUGHS) But how many people? If we could bring in an extra 150 a year, it would actually make quite a difference. There's lots of opportunity here to have nothing to do,... Show us how you do it, Jacqui. '...except, of course, go hunting, for breadfruit.' BANG! Well done! First shot! I'm impressed! Adventure lies around every corner, which keeps the seven children who live here active and out of trouble. We would love to have some more people come and live - people with skills, people who want to live in a small community - but also by having tourism. Hopefully we can attract some younger people back who come and work in opportunities that will be created, and also they might like to stay and raise families. Whoa! (LAUGHS) Every January, there's a celebration marking the day Fletcher Christian burned his ship, effectively cutting himself and his crew off from the rest of the world. More than two centuries later, Pitcairn wants the world to find it. The whole future of this island is in the balance, isn't it? Yes, it is. If you don't get a way of making an income, if you don't get more people coming to actually live on the island, it's really all over soon, isn't it? I believe so, and there comes a time when there won't be enough people to just do the physical running of the island, um, so we're giving it our best shot. Gosh, it's beautiful, isn't it? Last year, 70 people visited Pitcairn, but Jacqui's now saying they need 10 times that number, ideally. Now, you can email them at... Or go to their website at... And that is our show for tonight. Do join us on Facebook... Thanks for joining us and have a great week. Nga mihi nui, hei kona.