A senior Government Minister has labelled the Kiwi influencers who got caught in Iran "entitled".
Topher Richwihite and Bridget Thackwray have been reunited with their families, after entering Iran in July as part of an 'Expedition Earth' world tour they were documenting on their social media accounts.
While they may not have been imprisoned, Newshub understands the pair's movements were restricted, they were held in more than one place and could not leave without Government intervention.
Immigration Minister Michael Wood said the Government would always try to help stranded Kiwis - but better judgement was needed.
"Use your common sense," he told AM on Friday. "Going to a country where there are these sorts of events happening - where there is instability, where there's a warning against it - for the benefit of your Instagram reel or your YouTube channel I think most people would say doesn't feel like common sense and does feel a little bit entitled.
"It's more than troubling, the events we are seeing [in Iran]."
The events Wood was referring to included widespread protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini. The 22-year-old Iranian died earlier this year in police custody, prompting protests across Iran and around the world in opposition to the Iranian regime's treatment of women.
Newshub understands Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern deliberately toned down her criticism of recent issues in Iran to avoid upsetting the regime and jeopardising the release of the two Kiwis.
The National Party was standing by the Government's response, with Immigration spokesperson Erica Stanford agreeing Ardern was "hamstrung".
But Stanford, appearing on AM alongside Wood, argued the Opposition should have been briefed on the situation.
She believed fellow MPs shouldn't have been left in the dark.
"That couple put Jacinda and the Government in a very difficult position," Stanford said, but "Firstly, I'd like to say that the Government never briefed us on this and, frankly, I think they should have - that's one thing that I will say should've happened in the background."
The Government and the Opposition needed to be on the same page in such situations, she said.
In a statement on Thursday, the couple said they were "extremely relieved and happy to be back with our families".
"We are most grateful to all those who have supported us over recent months and thank them sincerely for all their help during this challenging chapter in our Expedition Earth journey," the statement said. "We are safe and well, however we would ask for privacy for ourselves and our families over the coming days while we collect our bearings and enjoy being reunited with our families."
Now the couple has been released, Kiwis Iranians have called for stronger New Zealand Government action against the regime.
