-
Smoke billows from a volcano in Eyjafjallajokull April 16, 2010 - Source: Reuters -
Watch Video
-
Related
New Zealand's governor general has been forced to abandon attempts to attend the state funeral of the president of Poland.
The volcanic dust cloud that caused the cancellation of flights
across Europe has forced Sir Anand Satyanand to return home.
Satyanand left New Zealand on Thursday night to attend the funeral
of Lech Kaczynski and his wife Maria Kaczynska in Krakow on
Sunday.
On reaching Los Angeles, Satyanand found his flight to London had been cancelled. He flew to New York on Friday for a possible direct flight to the Polish capital, Warsaw but that was also cancelled due to the closure of European airspace.
The Official Secretary at Government House, Robert Taylor, said the decision to return was made very reluctantly.
"The Governor-General wanted to pass on in person the condolences of all New Zealanders at the tragic loss of the president, his wife and so many other senior members of Polish government and society," says Taylor.
And he says there were also concerns that if the Governor-General made it to Europe, the ongoing disruption could have seen him stuck outside New Zealand for a lengthy period of time.
Satyanand has reiterated his condolences to the Polish people on the tragic loss of their president and others.
New Zealand will be represented at the funeral by New Zealand's Ambassador to Poland, Penelope Ridings.
