NZ volcano disaster: extra consular staff sent to help Aussie families

Extra consular staff have been ­deployed to New Zealand to help in the wake of the White Island volcano tragedy.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne. Picture: AP

Extra consular staff have been ­deployed to New Zealand to help in the wake of the White Island volcano tragedy.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne said an extra five officials from her department would be sent to Auckland and Christchurch, joining ­consular staff at each of the five hospitals where victims are being cared for.

“High commissioner Patricia Forsythe is herself at Tauranga Hospital and she has been able to speak with some of the friends of one of the affected Australians,” Senator Payne said.

She said the government would fast-track any passport requirements to allow family members to travel to New Zealand, with ­Qantas assisting with flights.

Senator Payne said the priority had been the treatment of the seriously injured, including the 13 Australians in hospital. Eleven Australians are unaccounted for.

“I would note that New Zealand authorities have said that they do not believe there are any survivors remaining on the island, and that this is now a recovery operation,” Senator Payne said.

She said the New Zealand government was regularly reassessing whether it was safe to travel to the island to try to recover the dead.

Identification of those killed would be a lengthy and complicated process. “There are strict international protocols about identification and these do need to be followed. They take time,” Senator Payne said.

Earlier, Scott Morrison had thanked his New Zealand counter­part, Prime Minister ­Jacinda Ardern, and her government for their swift ­response.

“These horrible incidents are always accompanied by incredibly selfless acts and equally I want to thank all of those in the medical teams who are there caring for Australians right now in New ­Zealand hospitals,” the Prime Minister said. “Some of those Australians will be a long way away from loved ones and they will be there on their own, and unaware of what has taken place because of the nature of their injuries.”

The flags at Parliament House in Canberra were flying at half-mast as a mark of respect for those who lost their lives.