NZ High Commission staffer dies from Covid
A long-serving staff member at the New Zealand High Commission to India has died after contracting Covid-19.
Yesterday afternoon, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said the Indian staff member had died in a hospital two days ago.
The staff member first joined the High Commission in 1986 when Sir Edmund Hillary was the high commissioner to India.
Another six High Commission staffers had contracted the virus and remained on the commission’s New Delhi precinct. None were symptomatic, and three had tested negative since being diagnosed.
Mahuta said she understood none were New Zealand citizens, however she wanted to confirm this.
‘‘New Zealand truly values the support, the work, that he gave to subsequent heads of mission, New Zealand staff and our country,’’ Mahuta said.
‘‘Our thoughts and aroha are with the family at this time. Any loss of life is extremely sad and I know that the Mfat (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade) wha¯nau, and they need time to process what has happened under extenuating circumstances of this global pandemic.’’
Mahuta confirmed that a plea for oxygen from the High Commission, made over Twitter two weeks ago, was for this staff member.
The commission subsequently apologised for a breaching of diplomatic protocol by issuing the plea over social media, to the youth wing of India’s opposition political party.
‘‘While they used the wrong channels they did as much as they could to ensure that his care could be provided for . . . They did as much as they can to care for him,’’ Mahuta said.
She said she did not know if there was now oxygen available on the commission’s precinct.
‘‘New Zealand is doing as much as it can through its embassies to support its people,’’ she said.
Mahuta said New Zealand ‘‘was not in a position’’ to run repatriation flights for either staff on the ground, or New Zealand citizens and residents. She said the Government was looking to commercial flights to bring citizens home.
‘‘It’s very much about demand,’’ she said.
A Mfat spokeswoman said the ministry would not be interviewed on the death, or the cases.