Their last post was 15 weeks ago – a video of an Iranian flag waving with the caption “Ready for Iran”.
TVNZ reported that the couple has been held in custody ever since, with Iran accusing the couple of “using photographic equipment in a restricted or military zone”.
A message from the couple sitting in a salt lake in Turkey.Credit:instagram.com/expeditionearth.live/
Ardern gave no further information on the reasons for their detention, but confirmed their release on Wednesday.
“The New Zealand government has worked hard to ensure their safe departure from Iran,” she said from Christchurch.
“It was with great relief that I heard the news.
“I can’t give much more detail, but … it was very difficult … for the two people involved.”
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New Zealand media were all aware of the couple’s plight but agreed not to publish details as the government sought to secure a diplomatic outcome.
That silence was broken on Tuesday night by Australian academic Kyle Moore-Gilbert, who tweeted to Ardern and Foreign Secretary Nanaia Mahuta: “It’s time for the New Zealand media to publish the articles they’ve been sitting on.”
In parliament, Acting Prime Minister Grant Robertson said Ms Mahuta was involved in securing the couple’s release, denying that the government gave anything to secure the release.
“There is no agreement. There is nothing in return,” he said.
Moore-Gilbert said the pair asked other travelers for advice on traveling to Iran and were told not to, but did it anyway.
NZ maintains official advice urging Kiwis not to travel to Iran for two years.
Robertson said he didn’t want to criticize the couple despite violating that advice, saying “Every traveler should always be aware of the rules and the laws and the country they are in and they should respect their hosts”.
On Wednesday, the government improved its travel advice and told Kiwis in Iran to leave.
Richwhite and Thwackwray have yet to speak publicly since their release.
MONKEY