NZ Victoria Cross winner, SGT Willie Apiata, clearly identified in media photo while on patrol in Kabul, Afghanistan...

NZ Victoria Cross winner, SGT Willie Apiata, clearly identified in media photo while on patrol in Kabul, Afghanistan...

New Zealand Victoria Cross winner, SGT Willie Apiata, was clearly identified by media photos while on patrol recently in Kabul, Afghanistan. These photos were criticised by New Zealand prime minister, John Key, as placing Apiata in unnecessary danger of identification while serving with New Zealand's special forces, SAS, in Afghanistan. Mr key said the photos could have been blurred.

Ironically, SGT Willie Apiata, earned his Victoria Cross (equivalent to US Medal of Honour) for bravery under fire in Afghanistan in 2004.

Question: Did the media have any responsibility not to show the photo in recent newspapers and probable future magazines, or did they as private media have the democratic right to publicly show the photographs? Or did responsibility actually come into it?