Kidnapping of son is family's worst nightmare

Roger Wiig

"Kia kaha, stand tall, your family are thinking of you."

This is the message the father of kidnapped cameraman Olaf Wiig conveyed as he endured a sickening wait for news of his son yesterday.

The Rev Roger Wiig and his wife, Carole, awoke to hear that 36-year-old Olaf, who works as a cameraman for US television network Fox News and is married to journalist Anita McNaught, had been kidnapped by armed gunmen in Gaza City.

"It comes as a heck of a shock," Mr Wiig said. "It's really the worst nightmare that his mother could've imagined."

Mrs Wiig was too distraught to talk about the abduction of her son and a colleague, but her husband spoke to the Herald at his 90-year-old mother's home in Napier. He said Olaf's grandmother was also deeply upset. "It's pretty tough for a grandson to be in such a dangerous situation."

The Wiigs live in London but are visiting family, including Olaf's identical twin Sven, in New Zealand after moving overseas 10 years ago.

Mr Wiig said the family was hopeful Olaf would be released unharmed, particularly as his son objected to Israeli action in the Palestinian territories and probably understood the desperation of his unknown captors.

"He's the kind of person who understands the need for justice and would understand the kind of fear and trauma they're going through."

Mr Wiig was confident Olaf would keep a clear head, saying he was highly experienced in war zones and had negotiated his way out of conflict situations in the past.

He was close to Steve Centanni, the Fox News reporter he was kidnapped with, and Mr Wiig was confident the pair would support each other through the ordeal.

Olaf was born on the Kapiti Coast and, since the end of 2001, has worked in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kashmir and the Occupied Territories.

He previously worked in Auckland as a freelancer, and in Wellington for TV3 and Marmalade Vision.

"He's seen the stupidities of war. He's not impressed by the fact that nations throw their young into war. He's seen the damage done to young lives," his father said.

Father and son had talked about the risks of Olaf's work. "You're aware of the fact it's a dangerous job ... You learn to live a bit with that [as a parent]," Mr Wiig said.

The Methodist minister and his wife spent yesterday fielding calls from family, friends, Fox News and Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials.

They had spoken to Ms McNaught, who was driving from Beirut in Lebanon, via Jordan, to try and secure her husband's release. "She was concerned for us and for him."

Mr Wiig, a former editor of Christian magazine Crosslink, said he and his wife were grateful they were in New Zealand with the support of close relatives and the community.

"It's clear that there's a deep concern for us and for Olaf and Anita."

He also praised the ministry for its response, saying officials had quickly contacted the family and appointed a liaison officer.

"It's delightful to come back to New Zealand to find out how impressive we all are in these situations."

Mr Wiig and his wife had planned to travel to Wellington tomorrow to visit Sven before returning to London on August 23, but their travel plans were unclear now as they waited for news.

Olaf also has a sister, Kjesten, and a niece and nephew in Boston.

Sven Wiig, a Wellington-based art director, guessed it was his brother involved when he heard news reports of a New Zealander being kidnapped.

"We found out through the news media. It wasn't apparent at that point it was Olaf, but it sounded very much like my brother. It's not really a surprise. They put themselves in a position where they are quite valuable to people who need to get their causes on the world stage. Certainly Olaf knew the danger he was in.

"Anita phoned this morning, and she was obviously worried about her husband, but optimistic that we'll get him back in one piece."

He hoped the gunmen behind the kidnapping were just after some publicity. "Hopefully they can get their time in the spotlight and let him go."

Sven spoke to his brother only last week. "He had just arrived in Gaza and was enjoying being back in Gaza - he'd been there several times and really liked the place, the people - and being away from Jerusalem, but I guess he's not so clever any more."