By Dan Parker
A New Zealand camerawoman has been released by Libyan authorities after she was arrested while shooting a documentary in Tripoli.
Sharron Ward, from Gisborne, was filming refugees inside a military facility when she was seized and her equipment confiscated.
She had been filming a set of short films for the UK's Guardian website, profiling Libya one year on from the fall of Moammar Gadhafi's regime.
Ms Ward, originally from Gisborne, is a regular to conflict zones, having filmed a documentary in Afghanistan about heroine addiction.
Friend and colleague Julia Durkin says there are always going to be risks when following those kinds of issues.
“I think if you're a good documentary film maker or photo journalist you always go where the good stories are going to be and unfortunately war zones and conflict tend to drive those type of stories,” she says.
Attempts to reach Ms Ward by phone in Libya have so far been unsuccessful, but that is likely to be because her equipment has been confiscated by Libyan police.
She has emailed her British employers to confirm her welfare.
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told 3 News they were aware of the situation and have the embassy in Egypt on standby to offer consular assistance if needed.
3 News