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Four people were taken hostage in a remote part of the highlands of Papua New Guinea (file photo).
A New Zealander, who lives in Australia, was detained held hostage in Papua New Guinea has been safely released, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has tweeted.
“Tenkiu tru for your leadership and cooperation governments of PNG and Australia.”
A New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman confirmed the release of three hostages in the Southern Highlands province of Papua New Guinea, a New Zealander resident in Australia and two Papua New Guinea nationals, and that they are now in a safe location.
“We are extremely happy that the hostage situation has been resolved and we are relieved for the hostages and their whānau.”
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* Four people, including a reported New Zealander, are being held hostage by criminals in Papua New Guinea
“We thank the government of Papua New Guinea for its leadership in securing the release of the hostages. In the spirit of Pacific whānau cooperation, we have been working closely with the governments of Papua New Guinea and Australia on this matter.”
For privacy reasons, the spokesperson said that he would not respond further.
The New Zealander lives in Australia and works as an archaeologist at an Australian university, the ABC reported. The media outlet said it is not releasing the archaeologist’s name due to the sensitivity of the situation.
On Monday, Papua New Guinea’s police commissioner said security forces were prepared to use deadly force to free the hostages from armed criminals.
The foreigner and three Papua New Guinea university students were “detained by criminals in the border area of South Highlands, Hela and Western Provinces,” the police commissioner, David Manning, said in a statement Monday and received by The Associated Press early Tuesday.
Manning said the safety of the hostages was the top priority of security forces who “operate within their established rules when dealing with these criminals”.
“Our specialized security personnel will use all means necessary against the criminals, up to and including the use of deadly force, to ensure the safety and security of those detained,” added Manning.