The Governor-General of New Zealand, Hon Anand Satyanand, yesterday (10 February 2009) wrote to the Governor-General of Australia, HE Ms Quentin Bryce, expressing his deep concern at the destruction and loss of life caused by the Victorian bush fires.
"The force of nature and the mode of destruction leaves one breathless. I just hope that the necessary resilience and confidence will be garnered to help everyone deal with what has happened," the Governor-General said in his letter to Ms Bryce.