Two staff
from the New Zealand embassy in Jakarta and a New Zealand
Police officer are in Bali making checks for New Zealand
casualties.
New Zealanders in Bali are advised to
exercise extreme caution and to contact family and friends
in New Zealand to confirm they are safe.
New Zealanders
concerned about family and friends in Kuta and Jimbaran
should try to contact them directly in the first instance.
They can also call the special Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and Trade number: 0800 432 111 (from overseas +64 4 439
8401)
The Ministry has so far received enquiries about
407 people, of whom 256 have been confirmed alive and well.
To reiterate, at this stage there is no word of any New
Zealand casualties.
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The most charitable explanation for National’s behaviour over the smokefree legislation is that they have dutifully fulfilled the wishes of the Big Tobacco lobby and then cast around – incompetently, as it turns out - for excuses that might sell this health policy U-turn to the public. The less charitable view is that the government was being deliberately misleading. Are we to think Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is a fool, or a liar? It seems rather early on in his term of office to be facing that unpleasant choice. Yet when Luxon (and senior MP Chris Bishop) tried to defend the indefensible with the same wildly inaccurate claim, there are not a lot of positive explanations left on the table.... More
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