Topher Richwhite

2022 - 10 - 26

Post cover — Image courtesy of "New Zealand Herald"

Topher Richwhite and Bridget Thackwray, NZ social media ... (New Zealand Herald)

New Zealand social media influencers who went missing in Iran for four months are safe and well after exiting the country. Topher Richwhite and Bridget ...

the staging of their supposed confessions is shameful, revolting, unacceptable and contrary to international law," said a French foreign ministry statement. The couple, who have been in all sorts of precarious situations in hot spots around the globe, were advised to get married before entering the Middle East. All three messages warned about the protests and provided advice about what to do. The risk may be higher if they undertake activities that could attract the attention of local authorities." The aim of the expedition was "to promote environmental issues as well as the teams and organisations that work to resolve them". The third leg of their travel was to take them through Iran according to a map on their expedition website. "The new advice for Iran reiterates the existing "Do Not Travel" warning, and adds that due to the potential for violent civil unrest, the risk of arrest or detention and the volatile security situation in the region, the risk to safety in Iran is significant," Mahuta said. The couple had been travelling the world after deciding early on in their relationship to explore the planet in 2017. Mahuta said the Government's ability to provide consular assistance in the case of arrest or detention in Iran was "extremely limited". "The fact that they have been able to depart I think speaks to the fact that that was the right strategy." Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) said via a spokeswoman that a couple that had received consular assistance in Iran were "out of the country". Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said this morning over the last several months, MFAT and the NZ Government had been working hard to "ensure the safe exit of two New Zealanders from Iran".

Well-known Kiwis detained in Iran have been released - MFAT (1 News)

Travel bloggers Christopher 'Topher' Richwhite and Bridget Thackwray were held in detention in the conservative Islamic Republic.

So far, both Jacinda Ardern and [Foreign Affairs Minister] Nanaia Mahuta have been weak in their condemnation,” Seymour said. “I knew it was deliberately being kept out of the media against my wishes and from the first six weeks to two months I’d been… Media agreed to delay reporting on the couple’s plight until their safe release. Richwhite and Thackwray’s experience draws parallels with that of Australian travel bloggers Mark Firkin and Jolie King, who were detained by Iranian authorities in 2019 after allegedly flying a drone near military installations. Human rights groups say several hundred people have been killed and thousands arrested. Many Iranian women have protested by removing their head coverings in public. Thackwray is the founder of former online fashion platform, Fashbae. Richwhite is the son of high-profile investment banker David Richwhite. It was a very strange experience,” he said. "The new advice for Iran reiterates the existing “Do Not Travel” warning, and adds that due to the potential for violent civil unrest, the risk of arrest or detention and the volatile security situation in the region, the risk to safety in Iran is significant.” For privacy reasons we are unable to comment further," MFAT said. A well-known New Zealand couple believed to have been detained in Iran for several months have left the country and are 'safe and well', the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says.

Kiwi influencers missing in Iran for four months now safe and well (Otago Daily Times)

Topher Richwhite and Bridget Thackwray were travelling the world in a van and documenting their journey for their hundreds of thousands of followers on ...

Kiwi couple missing in Iran for four months now safe and well (RNZ)

Topher Richwhite and his wife Bridget Thackwray who were not able to leave Iran have now exited the country and are safe and well.

"And as this example demonstrates, it can lead to very difficult circumstances. Whilst in this situation the New Zealanders have been able to depart, we cannot guarantee that would happen in the future." While the government had been working to get them out of Iran, she said she "we have wanted to be very clear on New Zealand's position on the protests in Iran and the death of an Iranian woman under circumstances which we are utterly opposed to".

NZ influencers released after being detained for weeks in Iran (The Sydney Morning Herald)

In their last post before being detained, Bridget Thackwray spoke about being asked to dress more modestly and asked her husband for a kiss while driving ...

it has been particularly difficult ... Robertson said he did not want to criticise the pair despite breaking that advice, saying “Any traveller should always be aware of the rules and the laws and the country that they’re in and they should respect their hosts”. “I can’t give much more detail, but ... TVNZ reported the pair were held in detention since then, with Iran accusing the pair of “using photographic equipment in a restricted or military zone”. The pair aimed to promote environmental issues, with a website and social media presence packed with photos of themselves in wild and spectacular locations. The New Zealand government has confirmed two travel bloggers and social media influencers have been allowed to exit Iran following weeks of reported detention in the country marred by civil unrest.

Topher Richwhite, Bridget Thackwray: Human rights advocate slams ... (Newshub)

Samira Taghavi has called on the Government to add Iran's Revolutionary Guards to New Zealand's terrorist list.

Mahsa Amini: Topher Richwhite, son of wealthy New Zealand ... (The Australian Financial Review)

Topher Richwhite, the son of investment banker David Richwhite, one of the country's richest people, has spoken for the first time since leaving Iran.

Students have played a pivotal role in the protests, with dozens of universities on strike. The couple began their extravagant trip in 2018. “We are safe and well. The authorities, who have accused the United States and other Western countries of fomenting what they call “riots”, have yet to announce a death toll but state media have said about 30 members of the security forces have been killed. Videos on social media showed crowds packing streets in many cities and the bazaars of Tehran and some other cities shut down with people chanting “Death to Khamenei”. “We are extremely relieved and happy to be back with our families,” the pair said in a statement, according to the NZ Herald.