New Zealand has been urged to clean up its mess in Afghanistan and compensate the families of seven children killed by explosives left behind.

The deaths of seven children, among 17 civilians injured or killed in incidents connected to firing ranges used by New Zealand troops in Afghanistan, were revealed by a Stuff Circuit investigation, Life + Limb, on Sunday,

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has distanced itself from the deaths, and the Defence Minister has said the claims linking the ranges to victims "have not been confirmed". 

This is despite a United Nations (UN) official telling Stuff Circuit the deaths can be reasonably attributed to unexploded ordnance which New Zealand failed to clear before leaving Afghanistan in April 2013. 

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University of Auckland senior lecturer Dr Thomas Gregory, who studies civilian deaths in conflict, said it was disappointing the NZDF had tried to "fudge the issue" by casting doubt on where the unexploded ordnance originated. 

"Data collected by the United Nations shows a clear spike in casualties caused by unexploded ordnance in areas that were immediately adjacent to these firing ranges and there is a strong possibility that these deaths were caused by NZDF."

The UN had counted 138 civilians killed from unexploded ordnance near coalition forces

He said Afghan children, especially in rural areas, were particularly vulnerable to unexploded shells left behind.

The UN had counted 138 civilians killed from unexploded ordnance near coalition forces' facilities between 2009 and 2015, and 75 per cent of these victims were children. 

"The fact that the NZDF have done so little over the past six years suggests that it is not taking its moral and legal responsibilities seriously and that it does not really value the lives of ordinary Afghans," Gregory said.

He said NZDF needed greater oversight, as it appeared either unwilling or incapable of dealing with possible civilian casualties. Gregory has advocated for the creation of an independent body to investigate such deaths. 

Green Party MP and defence spokeswoman Golriz Ghahraman​ said it was "heartbreaking" to learn New Zealand had caused such devastation in an already suffering community.

"They're committing resource to helping ensure that the harm is minimised."

"We bear a really heavy burden of responsibility now to both clear the area to humanitarian standard, which the UN says wasn't done, and to support the immediate victims and the whole community, in whatever way we can, in terms of reparations."

Ghahraman said it appeared the NZDF was trying to take responsibility for what had happened. 

"They're committing resource to helping ensure that the harm is minimised."

The NZDF had said it was working to further clear the ranges and had put aside $10 million for the work. Stuff Circuit had learned these talks began last year.

Defence Minister Ron Mark — currently in Thailand for a meeting of South East Asian defence ministers — was unavailable for an interview. 

His office provided a statement, which broadly followed a statement earlier provided by the NZDF. 

Mark said he was aware of claims "which appear to link victims of unexploded ordnance with New Zealand's live firing ranges, I understand those claims have not been confirmed".

​NZDF was committed to clearing the ranges and was working with the Afghan government on a suitable plan, he said. 

Government ministers would continue to be informed of progress, he said.