NZ PM John Key May Postpone Philippines Visit, Pledges $2M Additional Aid
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key is expected to postpone his trip to the Philippines in the wake of Super Typhoon Haiyan. Mr Key was supposed to travel to Manila on the invitation of President Benigno Aquino from November 20 to 22 to discuss the two countries' mutual interest and cooperation.
However, with the Philippine president having his hands full with rehabilitating the central region of the country and rescuing the survivors of Haiyan, with local name of Yolanda, Mr Key said that he might just get in the way should he continue with his plans of visiting the Southeast Asian nation.
"We'd love to come, but we don't want to get in the way," Newstalk ZB has quoted the PM as saying.
"We've been in this situation before with Christchurch, and we know the pressures on the system and his priority will clearly have to be his people, so we said we'll touch base at the end of the week and make the call," Mr Key continued, referring to the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that struck the South Island of NZ in 2010.
The PM is attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) Summit in Sri Lanka before he is expected to call Mr Aquino to inform him of his decision.
Meanwhile, New Zealand has pledged another $2 million to give to the Philippines to support the disaster relief efforts in the country.
Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully announced that the government would provide $750,000 in dollar-for-dollar funding to New Zealand non-government organisations that are working with the people in the Philippines.
Another $1.25 million would be allotted over the coming days as priority areas are identified.
The $2 million pledge is in addition to the $150,000 New Zealand has already committed to donate to the Philippines for the recovery and relief efforts in its central region.