A "bumbling" Kiwi IS recruit captured in Syria will struggle to return home and could face potential jail time if he does, New Zealand's government says.
Mark Taylor was placed on a United States terror watchlist after he "used social media, including appearing in a 2015 IS propaganda video, to encourage terrorist attacks in Australia and New Zealand", according to the US State Department.
He had been in 
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday confirmed Taylor was being detained by the Syrian Democratic Forces.
Mark Taylor was placed on a United States terrorist watchlist after he “used social media, including appearing in a 2015 IS propaganda video". Source: Supplied
The ABC earlier reported he had fled IS in December over worsening conditions and surrendered himself.
"There was no food, no money, basic services were pretty much collapsed," he said.
Ardern told reporters New Zealand's lack of diplomatic representation in Syria meant the government's ability to help him get back home was "severely limited".
A member of US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), stands guard against IS forces in Syria. Source: AAP
"He would need to make his own way to where New Zealand has consular representation," she said.
"We've made very clear in travel advice: do not travel to Syria, because if you do, we cannot help you return."
Turkey is New Zealand's nearest diplomatic station.
While declining to comment on specifics, Ms Ardern said Taylor would face legal consequences if he managed to return and that security provisions to protect the public had been put in place.
"[He] has associated himself with a designated terrorist organisation. New Zealand has laws in place to deal with those circumstances."
As he is not a citizen elsewhere, New Zealand's government cannot revoke Taylor's citizenship but New Zealand law includes penalties of imprisonment for certain terrorism-related offences.
He was dubbed the "bumbling jihadi" by media after a bragging tweet inadvertently revealed his location in Syria in 2014.
"There was no food, no money, basic services were pretty much collapsed," the New Zealander said. Source: Supplied
The 42-year-old told the ABC he had spent 50 days in an ISIS prison over the incident.
He also said he had only been deployed as a guard and in detail lamented that he had been unable to afford a slave while with the organisation.
"I would have liked to have one, but I never got to," he said.
"They range in price from $US4000 up to $US50,000, and I didn't have that kind of money just to throw around myself."
The head of New Zealand's Security Intelligence Service spy agency last month said there were a "small but concerning" number of Kiwis still in Syria.
Authorities have declined to confirm an exact figure but it has been speculated to be about five or fewer.
