John Key defends naming Willie Apiata

Prime Minister John Key with Andre Mason on the marae at Ratana Pa, Wanganui. Photo / NZPA

Prime Minister John Key is standing by his decision to reveal that one of the SAS soldiers in a controversial photograph this week was Victoria Cross winner Corporal Willie Apiata.

The photo of two soldiers in the streets of Afghanistan's capital Kabul was first published by The New Zealand Herald yesterday. It did not name him, but Mr Key later did when questioned by journalists about the photo. The Dominion Post today used a large close up of Corporal Apiata in the photo on its front page.

Mr Key said from Ratana Pa near Wanganui today he did not regret revealing Cpl Apiata's identity.

"At the end of the day, I'm not going to stand up and lie to the New Zealand media. If it's Willie Apiata, it's Willie Apiata."

He did not think The Dominion Post had worsened the situation as the image was already in the public domain, but he reiterated his disappointment with the Herald.

"And at the end of the day, there was always a risk with Willie Apiata anyway because he was very well known and high-profile before he went to Afghanistan. But my preference would be that future photos that are shown have the faces blacked out."

The photograph was taken by French freelance photographer Philip Poupin. New Zealand troops were in Kabul in response to a Taleban attack on Afghanistan's Presidential Palace on Monday.

The Defence Force said today it was talking with The New Zealand Herald and other media to reach "common ground" over the publication of material which identified the army's elite SAS troops.

The Defence Force said the publication of the photograph had broken a "robust gentlemen's" agreement not to identify SAS soldiers because of the increased risk it created.

Spokesman Commander Shaun Fogarty said today representatives had already talked over the issue with the Herald and were confident they could "sit around a table, thrash this out and find a way forward".

He would not say if a decision had been made or even debated within defence circles about bringing Cpl Apiata out of Afghanistan because of the photograph.

Editors at the Herald and Dominion Post said they published the photo for its news value and did not believe the media had put SAS soldiers at risk.

Cpl Apiata won his Victoria Cross in Afghanistan for rescuing a wounded comrade in 2004.

- NZPA