Derek Round

Derek Leonard Round(c. 1935 – May 17, 2012) was a New Zealand journalist and Vietnam War correspondent. He graduated from Canterbury University as a law graduate but later started with journalism after working with the Parker-Hulme murder trial in 1975 as a legal intern. During this time Derek was 19 years old.

Career

Derek's media career started in the middle of the 1950s when he was working as an editor for Canta, the Canterbury University student newspaper. In 1960 he started as the bureau chief for Reuters, an international news agency, in Singapore and Hong Kong. From 1973-1977 he worked as an Asia correspondent for the New Zealand Press Association (NZPA) as the Asia correspondent in both Singapore and Hong Kong. Later on he started working at the parliamentary press gallery as a political editor, also at NZPA. His roles also included London beureau chief and editor, which he worked as for five years, from 1984 and on.^[1]

Derek got a lot of credit for his work in Hong Kong for having an important role in giving the New Zealanders an introduction to Asia at the time when New Zealand wanted to strengthen bonds with China. This was during the time when New Zealand was starting to have stronger links with the region of Asia. Derek worked on the Vietnam war and was one of the last journalists from New Zealand to leave Saigon when the war ended. He was one of the first journalists from the western world to be allowed into China efter the ”ping-pong” diplomacy of president Richard Nixon. In 1976 Derek also followed along Prime minister Rob Muldoon on a visit to China. Derek was one of the few journalist to be selected to attend the ceremony of the marriage of Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. This was the highlight of Derek's time in London. After retreating to his private office, Derek got an early retirement in about 1990. Derek was not very scared of threats, bullets, or land mines; and therefore he often got into places that were visited seldom. He was one of the most distinguished journalists in New Zealand and he got the reputation for being a successful “gung-ho” reporter after working in a war zone which was very challenging. He was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for his journalism, in 2010.^[2] It has also been claimed that Derek Round worked as a spy for the SIS after the Soviet Union contacted him. This was told by Martin Round who is Dereks cousin.^[3]

His published works include the book “Barbed Wire Between Us" (July 15 2002, Random House New Zealand, 189 pages).^[4]

Death

Derek Round was murdered in the living room of his own home in New Zealand. The police reported a follows: "Although I can't go into details at this stage the results would indicate a horrific attack on Derek, which took place in the living room of his home", detective Senior Sergeant Dave Kirby of Whanguanui CIB said. Round's body was found in his home in Whanganui on the morning of May 17, 2012. Police described his death as violent. Inquiries are continuing.^[5] At the time of this report, police were searching for clues to get insight on what had happened before Dereks death. Later it was announced that Derek died due to several violent blows to the head.

In May 2012, Whanganui man Michael Umanui Werahiko, 31 was arrested and charged with Mr Round's murder. As of November 2012, he was being held in custody after failing to win bail.^[6] His trial was set to take place in Whanganui, in July 2013.^[7] Werahiko was subsequently found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum period of imprisonment of 15 years. Werahiko appealed, but both appeals (against the duration and minimum duration of his term) were thrown out in the Court of Appeal in 2015.^[8]

References