Media Release from Mana Magazine

2 April 2007

Phyllis Tarawhiti – another side to the story

The cover story in the April/May issue of Mana magazine features an in-depth interview with Phyllis Tarawhiti.

At 38, Phyllis was convicted of trying to smuggle 250 grams heroin out of Thailand. She admitted her crime straight away and prepared for the worst. It came in the form of the death sentence. That was commuted in quick succession to life (meaning 99 years), then to 50 years and on appeal, to 35 years. Phyllis was to spend 11 years in the notorious ‘Bangkok Hilton’ before flying home in February, a free woman.

It’s been a long hard road for Phyllis, and while media have been beating a path to her door since her return to New Zealand, so far she has agreed to few interviews.

She was however willing to talk to Mana editor Derek Fox. She’d received copies of Mana magazine while she was in prison. She says it was her lifeline with this country and her fellow-prisoners came to know about New Zealand through the stories and picture in Mana. She did complain that Mana, which places emphasis on Maori achievement, was a bit short on stories about people like her.

Derek Fox also had another connection to Phyllis through his brother Peter who spent many years in Thailand as a teacher. Peter Fox was her first visitor in prison, on one occasion talking his way past the guards to bring her a hangi. He and his partner became regular visitors.

‘Kiwi, you’re going home!’ is a remarkable story in which Phyllis Tarawhiti talks about her upbringing and the years leading up to that fateful trip to Bangkok. She talks about receiving the death sentence, her day-to-day life in prison, and the part New Zealand politicians and diplomats played in securing her eventual pardon from the King of Thailand.

Now 50, Phyllis is eager to get on with life, saying the experience has made her a better person than she was at 38. And despite all that has happened, she would one day like to return to Thailand. She says it’s a beautiful country, with beautiful people and a rich culture.

 Mana magazine is on sale from April 4th.

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