Petra & Nikki’s mission ‘THESE HEARTBREAKING STORIES MUST BE TOLD’

The TV star and photographer put their own safety at risk to expose human trafficking

- Kaisa Jillings

It was a stifling 32 degrees and 97 percent humidity in Thailand when Petra Bagust sat down with three teen girls while they shared personal tales of horror, hope and survival after being freed from human trafficking.

“They were so young when they were trafficked, just 14 or 15, and ended up working in a karaoke bar where the owner was violent,” shares TV presenter Petra. “A police inspector told us about seeing a motorbike driver, who was essentially a human courier, show up and take girls away. These are children being taken away and sold.”

Petra is visibily moved as she recounts the experience, telling the Weekly just how much the girls want a better life and future.

“One of the girls, Miu, said to me, ‘Don’t see us as bad children because what we need is the same as other children in this world. We want to be good children. We are like normal people who would like the chance to start again.’”

While Petra, 50, and the girls talked, their powerful exchange was being filmed by award-winning photographer Nikki Denholm, 55.

The images and stories will be used in campaigns for Tearfund NZ and at Trafficking Unlocked, their upcoming November charity evenings in Auckland and Tauranga.

Tearfund NZ assists police investigations into the criminal networks behind trafficking and slavery, and works with local law enforcement to prosecute traffickers and prevent more people becoming enslaved.

Petra and Nikki are passionate ambassadors for the organisation, and have been friends for 20 years after first bonding as new mothers with a deep desire to effect change in the world.