New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully (L)
and British Foreign Secretary William Hague speak at a
joint media conference in Auckland yesterday. (Photo by
Sandra Mu/Getty Images)
British Foreign Secretary William Hague lands in
Christchurch today and has made touring the quake-battered
inner city red zone a priority.
On day two of his whistle-stop New Zealand visit, he will lay
a wreath at the naval base HMNZS Pegasus on the fringe of the
red zone to honour fallen service personnel, before meeting a
number of veterans.
Around midday, Mr Hague will then be taken on a guided tour
of the CBD red zone by Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry
Brownlee.
His New Zealand counterpart, Foreign Affairs Minister Murray
McCully said yesterday that Mr Hague has expressed
"solidarity and support" for Christchurch since the quakes.
"And when he had half a day that he could spend doing
something outside of Auckland, that was his priority, and we
were very pleased to make it happen for him," Mr McCully
said.
Mr Hague will wrap up his New Zealand tour outside the
Christchurch Art Gallery, when he promotes the 2013 Great
British Car Rally taking place across New Zealand from
February 17-22.
Mayor Bob Parker will then take Mr Hague for a spin in his
own MG RV8 sportscar.
The former leader of the British Conservative Party has used
his second visit to the country in two years to strengthen
ties Down Under.
Yesterday Mr Hague and Mr McCully issued a joint statement to
pledge a close working relationship in battling the "growing
threats" to cyber security, and to "advance this through
positive international engagement".
- Kurt Bayer of APNZ
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