PARAPARAUMU WOMAN FIRST CONFIRMED NEW ZEALAND QUAKE VICTIM.

(From New Zealand Press Association)

Wellington, Dec 27 NZPA - One New Zealander has been confirmed dead following a massive earthquake and tsunami that has devastated Southeast Asia, Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff said today.

Leone Cosens, formerly of Paraparaumu on the Kapiti Coast, had been had living in Thailand for 12 years and was travelling with her family.

She died in Thailand's southern resort of Phuket.

``At this point we have no other known New Zealand casualties or missing people who are of particular concern,'' he said.

``However, we cannot rule out that there may be other casualties.''

Jonathan Schwass, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Mfat) media advisor, said in a statement that Mfat understood the Phuket and …