New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) has confirmed that a man from New Plymouth is being detained in Iraq, New Zealand Press Association reported Tuesday.

Andreas Schafer's family first feared he was being held in Iraq about a month ago after receiving an email suggesting he had been detained by the American-led Coalition Provisional Authority which administers the country.

However fears were held for his safety after the MFAT checked through diplomatic channels and found he was not being detained by American authorities.

MFAT spokesman Jonathan Schwass said Tuesday that the MFAT this week received information confirming Schafer had been detained in Iraq.

He refused to comment on who was holding Schafer, other than to say it was not an insurgent group.

Schafer was alive and well, but the MFAT was seeking more information on where he was being held and why, Schwass said.

The spokesman would not comment on what Schafer was doing in Iraq.

Source: Xinhua