Aucklander reported safe after hurricane

Aucklander Brendan Clifford-Walsh was this morning reported safe and well after disappearing in the wake of hurricane Katrina.

Mr Clifford-Walsh was among four New Zealanders that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday had not contacted their families in the wake of Katrina's onslaught on the United States last week.

Mr Clifford-Walsh, 65, had last made contact with his family in an email to his nephew, Chris Walsh, from New Orleans on August 28.

He said in the message that he had been ordered to evacuate his hotel and go to the Superdome, 20 blocks away.