February 13, 2009

Prime Minister John Key will farewell 53 firefighters who are flying to Victoria to help with the battle against bush fires
Dozens of New Zealand firefighters bound for the Victorian bush fires will be farewelled by the Prime Minister in Auckland this afternoon.
A contingent of 53 firefighters will head to Melbourne, before being sent to parts of the state that have been ravaged by the disaster.
John Key will talk to the contingent before they fly out mid-afternoon. They will be in Victoria on an 18-day deployment.
Another group of New Zealand firefighters is expected to be sent across the Tasman in coming weeks.