An armed faction of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), led by Egianus Kogoya, kidnapped pilot Phillip Mehrtens on February 7, 2023, after he landed a small commercial plane in the remote, mountainous area of Nduga.

Indonesian military spokesman Nugraha Gumilar said the rebel group was "always reporting hoax news" after the rebels claimed the military had been dropping bombs onto civilian areas.

Gumilar said Indonesia's military was still trying to save the New Zealand pilot.

A video released during the week by TPNPB showed Mehrtens surrounded by the armed Papua rebels and wearing a dark brown T-shirt and boots.

He said he was "not safe" following the claimed air strikes.

"Before I was in the safe area, but have been taken again by the Papua military, and it's not so safe for me anymore," Mehrtens said.

TPNPB leader Kogoya said in a statement the group demanded Indonesia's military stop dropping bombs with a helicopter, calling it a "very unbalanced" action.

The rebel group also said it would only release Mehrtens through a negotiation facilitated by the United Nations.

In response to the new development, NZ's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said the government was doing everything it could to secure a peaceful resolution and Mehrtens' safe release, including working closely with Indonesian authorities.

A low-level but increasingly deadly battle for independence has been waged in the resource-rich western half of the island of Papua since it was controversially brought under Indonesian control in a vote overseen by the UN in 1969.

Australian Associated Press