Argo - Grant Allen

The award-winning movie 'Argo', about six American hostages who escaped the US Embassy when it was taken over militants in Tehran in 1979, suggested New Zealand diplomats did little to help. In fact Kiwi diplomats Richard Sewell and Chris Beeby met the escapees many times while they were in hiding at the Canadian ambassador's home. Both diplomats have since died, but there is a first hand account of what the New Zealanders did. A diary written by Richard Sewell at the time of the hostage taking has been donated to the Alexander Turnbull Library.