Held Kiwi 'in good shape'

A former NZ soldier arrested for his alleged involvement in a custody kidnapping in Lebanon is understood to be in good physical condition and has been given legal advice.

Formal charges are not likely to be laid until after Christmas, Foreign Affairs and Trade said.

Napier man Dave Pemberton, 40, was taken from a plane about to leave Beirut on Wednesday.

Pemberton, and former Australian soldier Brian Corrigan, 38, were allegedly hired by Canadian woman Melissa Hawach to retrieve daughters Cedar, 3, and Hannah, 5, who had been staying with their Australian-Lebanese father.