Derek Round

Derek Leonard Round (c. 1935 – May 17, 2012) was a New Zealand journalist and Vietnam War correspondent.

Career

Round's media career started in the middle of the 1950s when he was working as an editor for Canta, the Canterbury University student newspaper. He graduated from Canterbury University as a law graduate but had worked in journalism at the Parker-Hulme murder trial in 1975 as a 19-year-old legal intern, and continued int hat career. In 1960 he started as the bureau chief for Reuters, the international news agency, in Singapore and Hong Kong. From 1973-1977 he worked as an Asia correspondent for the New Zealand Press Association (NZPA) in 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 bureau chief and editor, which he worked as for five years, from 1984 and on.^[1]

Round had an important role in introducing New Zealanders to Asia at a time when New Zealand wanted to strengthen bonds with China. He 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 after the ping-pong diplomacy of President Richard Nixon. In 1976 Rounds accompanied New Zealand Prime Minister Rob Muldoon on a visit to China.

Round was one of the few journalists selected to attend the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981.

Round retired in about 1990.

Round was one of the most distinguished journalists in New Zealand and he got the reputation for being a successful “gung-ho” reporter from his work in war zones. 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 Whanganui, New Zealand. His body was found on the morning of May 17, 2012. Police described his death as violent, reporting as 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. Inquiries are continuing.^[5] 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