A RNZAF Orion has been dispatched to the area where the ferry sank. Photo / Supplied
A RNZAF Orion has been dispatched to the area where the ferry sank. Photo / Supplied
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A man with a New Zealand connection is among the dead in the Tonga ferry disaster.
Radio & TV Tonga told the Herald identification cards had been found in a wallet belonging to a 48-year-old man named Dan MacMillan.
The man's body was one of two recovered from thePrincess Ashika, which sank overnight.
The exact spelling of Mr MacMillan's name was not confirmed.
A spokesman from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the man appeared to be a British citizen travelling with a New Zealand driver's licence.
No further details on how long the man had been in New Zealand, or where in Britain he was from, were available.
The NZ High Commission in Tonga was investigating whether there were any New Zealand casualties.
Foreign Minister Murray McCully, speaking from Cairns in Australia, offered his condolences to the people of Tonga.
"The latest update I've had suggest there are still over 30 people - perhaps 32 people - missing from the vessel that went down.
"It's a terrible tragedy. Our Prime Minister has taken the opportunity this morning of conveying the condolences of the people of New Zealand to the people of Tonga, through the Tongan Prime Minister who is at the Forum," he said.
Mr McCully said New Zealand was offering Tonga help with the search and would later offer help to deal with maritime safety issues likely to follow.
New Zealand was also working with Australia to help find a replacement ferry to take on the route in the meantime.
He said he had no idea yet what caused the crash, or whether any New Zealanders were involved.
