There're fears for a New Zealand nurse kidnapped by Isis
more than five years ago.
It's been revealed Louisa Akavi,
who was taken by Isis had her identity hidden in fear
she would be killed by her captors.
But now her employers, the Red Cross,
and our own government have gone public
in the hope the exposure will bring about the 62-year-old's release.
Hania Douglas has more.
A nurse who was captured abroad five years ago.
Finally, her family can speak out.
According to today's release,
Louisa Akavi was deployed to Syria as part of her work
with the Red Cross
when she was reportedly captured by Isis,
but while Isis' hold on the region has been relinquished,
Akavi has still not been found.
Celebrated for her work in nursing,
Akavi has travelled extensively to war zones to help.
Information on the capture of Akavi and her travelling party
was kept private to keep them safe,
but now the powers that be are changing tack
in the hopes of gaining more information.
But Red Cross assures the public that the search for Akavi continues.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says
there a number of operational or intelligence matters
the government won't be commenting on.
Hania Douglas, Te Karere.
Meanwhile, adding to that story,
the Prime Minister has just finished
her weekly post cabinet media conference
and Jacinda Ardern was cautious with her comments regarding Louisa Akavi.
That was Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
from her post cabinet media conference
which just finshed up within the last half hour at parliament.