Huge police team hunts violent killer
A man killed in his Whanganui home was respected journalist and former war correspondent Derek Round, in 2010 made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to journalism.
Mr Round, 77, was found dead on Thursday morning, with police yesterday saying his death had been violent.
Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Kirby of Wanganui CIB would not say who found Mr Round, or how he died.
Police wanted to hear from anyone who saw his blue 1996 Jaguar XJ6 on the move from 6.30pm on Wednesday and 8.30am Thursday. ‘‘I also want to hear from anyone who may have seen certain items of clothing, which may have been discarded,’’ Mr Kirby said.
A team of 40 police were working the investigation, searching both sides of the Whanganui River for clues.
Mr Round covered the Vietnam War, the historic visit of Prime Minister Rob Muldoon to China in 1976 and interviewed British call-girl Mandy RiceDavies, who discredited the British Government in the 1960s.
He was New Zealand Press Association Asian correspondent from 1973-1977, on hand with pen and notebook when Mr Muldoon was one of the last foreign leaders to call on Chinese leader Mao Zedong in 1976.
It was the first visit to China by a New Zealand leader after Wellington and Peking established diplomatic relations and three years earlier Mr Round reported on the first ministerial delegation to China, led by Minister of Overseas Trade Joe Walding.
He worked for NZPA as political editor, its Fleet Street-based chief European correspondent, and editor. He was bureau chief in Singapore and Hong Kong for the Reuters news agency, and it was his work in Asia for which he was best known, and he most proudly reflected on.
At a time when New Zealand was seeking to strengthen its bonds with Asia, Mr Round played a prominent role in presenting the continent in his homeland.
As a war correspondent in Vietnam he was one of the last New Zealand journalists to leave, evacuating to Hong Kong a fortnight before the Viet Cong took what was then Saigon.
Based at Tan Son Nhut RNZAF airbase as the Viet Cong advanced, he was taught to use a rifle, in case ‘‘things got sticky’’. He never had cause to use it.
Former NZPA chief executive Graeme Jenkins described Mr Round as a highly talented journalist.
‘‘Apart from his years in the Parliamentary Press Gallery, he served with distinction in our Hong Kong and London offices. He was one of the first western journalists allowed into China.
‘‘His reports from there, for NZPA, were picked up by the international agencies and used around the world.’’
Mr Jenkins said a highlight of Mr Round’s time in London as NZPA chief correspondent was the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana.
‘‘He was one of a small group of media who attended the ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral,’’ Mr Jenkins said.