Journalists banned from reporting on ferry sinking
Auckland: The Kiribati government has banned a New Zealand TV crew from reporting on the MV Butiraoi ferry disaster. Upon arrival in Kiribati on Monday, Newshub journalist Michael Morrah and his cameraman had their passports taken off them.
The next day they were questioned by Immigration officials about their plans to report on the ferry disaster which has made headlines around the world.
Mr Morrah had to hand over a copy of an interview he’d already conducted with survivors of the ferry disaster.
The Newshub team were then told the sinking was “a very sensitive matter”, and that while the government investigated, it did not want foreign journalists interfering.
They were made to delete their interview with survivors. After their passports were eventually returned, the Newshub team flew out from Kiribati.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) was also warned off from entering to report on the disaster by the Kiribati government.
The ABC reported it contacted the government this week to outline plans to travel to Tarawa to report on the disaster which has made headlines around the world.
The broadcaster reported a government spokesperson saying it would not be an appropriate time to carry out interviews.