Up to 3 New Zealanders dead in Bali attack

7.30am

UPDATE - The number of New Zealanders confirmed dead or missing after the Bali bomb blasts at the weekend has been reduced to three, says the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The Ministry said last night that as many as six New Zealanders were feared dead. However, spokesman Brad Tattersfield told NZPA this morning the number had been revised after three men had been located safe and well.

Mr Tattersfield said one man who had not been seen since the explosion was reported safe and well by his sister last night. The man was on a surfing trip in Bali.

"Two other people who hadn't checked into their hotel since the bombing did so last night, so that has also reduced the number."

Former Timaru man Mark Parker, 27, and one other man identified by a friend in a morgue were the only confirmed New Zealand fatalities from the bombing.

The second man's name has not been released.

MFAT also held "grave fears" for a third man.

"It's still possible there may be other New Zealand victims of the bombing," Mr Tattersfield said.

"What we are trying very hard to do now is to work with our list of unaccounted for people and get that down to a realistic figure."

MFAT had tracked down 1149 New Zealanders, but 94 remained unaccounted for.

"We've got the list down by calling back people and through quite a number of responses from members of the public for which we are very grateful.

"We do appeal, though, for people who may have heard from people over there to get in touch with us so we can continue to work on that list. We think a lot of people on the list are in fact safe and well."

Mr Tattersfield said many of those still unaccounted for may have continued on their overseas travel. MFAT would post messages on the internet in a bid to track them down.

The identification of victims could take a long time.

"It's now fairly clear that most of the bodies will not be able to be visually identified. They will need to be identified using forensic techniques. That could take several weeks.

"The only way we will get a early indication of the true number of New Zealand fatalities is by developing a list that is credible."

Forensic testing included the use of DNA, dental records or fingerprints.

Mr Tattersfield said the number of calls to its hotline had dropped off. More than 2500 calls had been made since Sunday's bombing.

New Zealand Consul to Indonesia Nigel Alladyce and Jakarta- based defence attache Colonel Alan Goodwin will stand down from body identification duties today.

MFAT has asked the pair to return to New Zealand's Jakarta embassy today in a bid to minimise stress. They were due to be replaced in Bali by two other MFAT staff.

Mr Alladyce and Col Goodwin arrived in Bali on Sunday morning and have been visiting hospitals and morgues since.

Mr Tattersfield said all staff would be given counselling to deal with what they had seen.

Meanwhile, family members and friends of former Rotorua man Jamie Wellington today continued their bids to find him.

Mr Wellington, in his early 30s, was last seen just before the bomb blast.

Pleas for any information about Mr Wellington from family and tributes from staff at the Jakarta International School, where he worked for the past five years, have been posted on the internet.

Five members of the rugby team Mr Wellington was in Bali with were also missing today.

Mr Wellington is an old boy of Rangitoto College in Auckland and Massey University.

He has lived in Jakarta for seven years teaching maths to expat students.

The official death toll from the blast remained at 183 today, but it is expected to grow to more than 200.

Australia's official death toll from the blast was 30 today, but authorities fear for another 46 people yet to be accounted for.

- NZPA

Bali messages and latest information on New Zealanders
New Zealand travellers in Bali, and their families around the world, can exchange news via our Bali Messages page. The page also contains lists of New Zealanders in Bali and their condition.

Foreign Affairs advice to New Zealanders

* Travellers should defer travel to Bali

* NZers in Bali should keep a low profile and remain calm

* Foreign Affairs Hotline: 0800 432 111

Feature: Bali bomb blast

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