NZ-US partnership forum delegates confirmed safe
All the delegates in Christchurch for the United States New Zealand Partnership Forum are safe and accounted for, the NZ-US Council says.
All the delegates in Christchurch for the United States New Zealand Partnership Forum are safe and accounted for, the NZ-US Council says.
The forum meeting began on Monday and was due to run until Tuesday evening, but the quake brought it to an early close.
The US sent a 43-member delegation which included an assistant secretary of state and nine congressmen.
US ambassador David Heubner yesterday used Twitter to get a message through to the delegates, telling them to go to the US Antarctic Centre if they had lost contact with each other.
The New Zealand delegation of 63 included cabinet ministers and senior government officials.
US-NZ Council director Stephen Jacobi said all the delegates and staff were safe and accounted for.
"Forum delegates are dismayed and distraught by the loss of life, the injuries and damage in a city that had welcomed them so warmly," Mr Jacobi said.
NBR staff
Thu, 24 Feb 2011
Thu, 24 Feb 2011
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NZ-US partnership forum delegates confirmed safe
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