TV reporter blacklisted in Nauru
Dreaver released after hours of police questioning but accreditation revoked
Journalist Barbara Dreaver has had her accreditation to cover the Pacific Islands Forum in Nauru revoked after authorities took exception to her interviewing a refugee.
Dreaver was speaking to a refugee when police showed up and told her she was breaching her visa rules.
The 1 News reporter, an experienced Pacific correspondent, said she was held in an interview room for three hours before being released.
“My visa is still in place, however my Pacific Islands Forum accreditation has been revoked.
“As far as I’m concerned I’m doing my job. However I’m really grateful I’m still able to report on the Pacific Islands Forum — even though I can’t use the media centre or go to any of the press conferences or so forth I can report on forum issues.”
Dreaver said as far she was aware she had not done anything wrong. “I was under the impression and know we were allowed to talk to refugees. It shows things are a wee bit sensitive here, in fact a lot sensitive.”
Foreign Minister Winston Peters informed Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern about the incident. “Once in Nauru I will seek more advice about the situation,” Ardern said.
“This Government believes in freedom of the press, throughout the world, and of course that includes the entire Pacific region.”
Ardern flies to the Micronesian island today for the forum retreat, which is the formal gathering of the Pacific leaders.
National Party spokesman Todd foreign McClay affairs said Dreaver’s detention had been unacceptable. “Freedom of the press is a fundamental part of any democracy and journalists must be free to tell important stories.”
TVNZ’s head of news and current affairs John Gillespie said Dreaver’s accreditation to cover the conference has been revoked since her release.
“After questioning her for nearly four hours, she was released,” he said.
“Barbara’s safe — we’ve spoken to her and she’s in good spirits considering her ordeal.”
World Vision NZ said it had helped Dreaver to connect with refugees.
“We were contacted by our refugee liaison this afternoon, who let us know that Barbara’s interview with a refugee had been stopped by the Nauru police, and Barbara was taken by them,” it said.
Nauru’s Government has given limited media access to the forum and has allowed a small number of journalists to attend.
This year the Australian Broadcasting Corporation was banned from attending the event, which triggered a boycott by other Australian media.
World Vision NZ director Grant Bayldon said the detention raised questions about hosting the forum in Nauru. “Refugees have effectively been held against their will for five years in cruel conditions and in breach of international law,” he said.
“If Pacific Island Forum leaders don’t speak out on this issue it’s hard to see what the forum . . . stands for.”
Nauru is home to an Australian detention centre with more than 900 refugees and asylum seekers.