Relief for some but more NZers missing

A ray of sunlight illuminates the New Orleans Superdome as two hurricane survivors lie incapacitated on stretchers. Picture / Reuters

Two New Zealanders have been found but three remain unaccounted for after Hurricane Katrina.

The family of Brendan Clifford-Walsh received word yesterday that the 65-year-old Aucklander had survived the deadly storm.

And Nathan Crispin, a New Zealand resident of New Orleans, made contact with his family for the first time since the hurricane hit 11 days ago.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said fears were mounting for four New Zealanders.

Yesterday, despite Mr Clifford-Walsh and Mr Crispin being accounted for, the total remained at three.

Ministry spokeswoman Emma Reilly said the number was fluctuating, with at least two new people added to the list and others removed during the day.

She said privacy laws prevented the ministry revealing the names or ages of those for whom there were concerns, but none were tourists.

"They are all people who are resident in the hurricane-affected area."

Mr Clifford-Walsh's family, who last heard from him in an email saying he was being evacuated from his New Orleans hotel, learned yesterday morning that he had escaped from the city.

"We're delighted," said his daughter, Melanie McCahill, who was told by New Zealand and Irish consular officials in the United States that he had stayed in Dallas, Texas, since the hurricane.

Both countries had been searching for Mr Clifford-Walsh, who is a New Zealand resident but travels on an Irish passport.

Mrs McCahill, wife of former All Black Bernie McCahill, said her father was evacuated to the Superdome in New Orleans and later stayed at the Hyatt in Dallas.

No one in the family had spoken to him yet, but he was believed to be on his way to San Francisco.

"It's Chinese whispers at this stage."

Mrs McCahill had been warned by New Zealand's honorary consul in Houston, Kathleen Kelly, that her father may be traumatised by what he saw at the Superdome.

Nathan Crispin's family in New Zealand were also celebrating, after the news that the 32-year-old was safe.

His aunt, Diane Crispin, said his American wife, Jeanie, had called to say he had made contact from New Orleans.

Jeanie and their child had left the city but Mr Crispin had stayed behind to protect their property. He had been unable to call because phones were down.

Some reports of missing New Zealanders have turned out to be false alarms.

A radio report yesterday said Lorna Parnell and Catherine and Richard Martin were New Zealanders for whom there were concerns. However, Mr and Mrs Martin are British and Ms Parnell, who is in her seventies, has not lived in New Zealand for decades.

Their names were listed on a Red Cross website by New Zealand relatives, who later said all three were fine.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs would not say whether Ms Parnell was one of those people removed from its list after she was accounted for.

Meanwhile, at least two of four young New Zealand women who survived the hurricane by spending five days sheltering in a hotel have decided to continue their travels rather than return home.