KEY POINTS:
New Zealand authorities are yet to see a New Zealander being held in Pakistan, almost a week after he was detained.
Mark Taylor, 35, was detained by Pakistani security forces after he tried to enter a tribal region on the Afghan border, identified as a Taleban and al Qaeda stronghold, without permission.
Pakistani intelligence sources have said they suspect he might have links with Islamist militants.
Mr Taylor, who was wearing traditional Pakistan dress, told authorities he was going to South Waziristan to get married to a tribal woman.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman today said Mr Taylor was still being detained, but was unwilling to say whether the ministry had yet established what he was doing in Pakistan.
She said New Zealand's honorary consul in Pakistan had travelled to Islamabad to see him, but had not yet been able to do so.
He was seeking an update on Mr Taylor's wellbeing from local authorities in the area and trying to negotiate access.
"The New Zealand embassy in Tehran and our honorary consul in Pakistan are actively pressing the Pakistan authorities to get updates on Mr Taylor's welfare to ensure he has access to consular assistance and to obtain permission to speak directly to him."
The ministry had also called in Pakistan's high commissioner to New Zealand to "make urgent efforts to assist us" in gaining access to Mr Taylor.
Mr Taylor's family had been kept abreast of the ministry's efforts, but wished to remain out of the public eye.
South Waziristan is one of Pakistan's seven semi-autonomous ethnic Pashtun tribal regions that have long been off-limits to foreigners without special permission and which in recent years have been plagued by militant violence.
While some Westerners of Asian descent have been known to travel to Pakistan to join militants, very few Westerners with European roots have been known to have gone there for that purpose.
Some reports have said Mr Taylor was carrying a tape recorder at the time of his arrest - raising speculation he might be a journalist.
He was also reported to be carrying an Australian passport, as well as his New Zealand one.
- NZPA
