NZ's FM to attend Bali bomb service

NZ's FM to attend Bali bomb service

NEW ZEALAND: New Zealand foreign minister Phil Goff will represent the government at next Sunday's commemoration service in Bali for victims of last year's nightclub bombings, he announced on Thursday.

Three New Zealanders were among the 202 people who died in the Oct. 12 attack on Paddy's bar and the Sari Club in Bali's Kuta district and a number were among the hundreds injured.

Goff said it was fortunate that more New Zealanders were not killed, and added, "For those directly involved, it was a traumatic event, both physically and psychologically. The commemoration services will hopefully help with their healing process."

The government is paying for about 75 New Zealanders who were in Bali at the time to attend the service, and another will be held in the capital, Wellington.

"The services will be an opportunity to express our condolences to those who lost family in the attack, our support for those who were injured or who had to witness the suffering the attack caused, and our thanks for those who helped in the aftermath of the attack," Goff said. -- DPA