Separatist rebels release New Zealand pilot after 19 months captive in Papua

New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens, left, who was held hostage for more than a year in the restive Papua region, sits with a police officers after his release (Satgas Damai Cartenz via AP)

A New Zealand pilot held hostage for more than a year in the restive Papua region of Indonesia has been freed by separatist rebels.

Phillip Mehrtens, a 38-year-old pilot from Christchurch, was working for Indonesian aviation company Susi Air when he was abducted by rebels from a remote airport on February 7 2023.