The former Nauru opposition MP Roland Kun says he is still willing to be a witness in an Australian Federal Police investigation into alleged bribery on Nauru.
Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
Mr Kun said he was prevented from leaving the island a year ago partly because he was likely going to be a key witness in the probe embroiling Nauru government ministers.
The Justice Minister David Adeang and the President Baron Waqa have since denied allegations they were among those receiving kickbacks from an Australian phosphate dealer.
Mr Kun said his part in the probe was one reason Mr Adeang stopped him from leaving Nauru.
"He knew that if I was off-island then there'd be an opportunity that I might become a key witness to that investigation. It would not be in his favour to have that investigation progress with a cooperating witness who was in previous governments."
Mr Kun said now he's settled in New Zealand he will make himself available for the case and continue to speak about matters affecting his country.
Roland Kun has been reunited with his children in New Zealand. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
Mr Kun made his first public comments since arriving in Wellington on Monday on a New Zealand passport, which was issued on humanitarian grounds.
The Nauruan government confiscated his passport a year ago, and accused him of taking part in protests on the island and speaking out against it in the international media, suspending him from the parliament but not laying any charges.
Mr Kun had been keeping a low profile in Nauru since efforts got under way to get him a New Zealand passport, and he didn't stand for election in the weekend's polls.
"I don't intend on not having an opinion or keeping my opinions to myself, especially in terms of governance and what government is doing.
I'm going to be vocal and I'm going to continue to have an opinion on what these guys are doing."
Mr Kun said his focus was on his family, including his three children, who he had not seen for a year.
