Iran envoy helps get NZ motorcyclists back on Silk Road

Six New Zealanders detained under house arrest in Iran yesterday were released after some "concentrated efforts" by diplomatic staff.

The Silkriders, which includes outspoken economist Gareth Morgan and New Zealand Trade & Enterprise chairman Phil Lough, are in the middle of a 91 day, 15,200 kilometre motorcycle trip from Venice to Beijing, tracing the footsteps of Marco Polo along the Silk Road.

They were detained by authorities in the Caspian Sea town of Babolsar.

In a weekly radio interview with Newstalk ZB's Paul Holmes yesterday morning, Morgan said a crowd gathered to greet the motorcyclists upon their arrival in Babolsar. Local police turned up and decided the Silkriders were causing "too much of a disturbance".

"They took our passports and put us into a rat-infested hotel and told us we're not going anywhere until they've checked out who we are," Morgan said.

Wellington-based Silkriders logistics co-ordinator Mike O'Donnell told the Herald the police initially tried to claim the group was breaking Iranian law which only allows for motorcycles up to 200cc. The group is riding 650cc bikes.

But early last night the group was freed after the New Zealand diplomatic staff in Tehran and the Iranian ambassador stepped in to help. They expect to leave Iran within two days.

Mr O'Donnell said the police officers who detained the group later said they were not under house arrest but were in fact kept as "guests".

ABN Amro Craigs financial analyst Selwyn Blinkhorne is set to join the Silkriders, replacing Lough, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, next month. Morgan's newspaper columns regularly criticise financial planners, investment advisers and insurance agents. The group also includes Morgan's wife Joanne, former Air NZ flight operations boss Brian Wyness, principal of a Wellington BMW motorcycle dealership Brendan Keogh, and Tauranga farmer Dave Wallace.