Extra quake victim payouts demanded

A Chinese official said yesterday that New Zealand should consider special compensation to parents of Chinese students killed in last month's earthquake because their loss was magnified under the country's one-child policy.

Seven students from China have been identified among the 166 confirmed deaths in the quake that devastated Christchurch on 22 February and at least 20 are missing.

Cheng Lei, an official with the Chinese embassy, said Chinese families had lost not just their only child, but also a future breadwinner. He said New Zealand should consider providing additional assistance.

A New Zealand minister said payments were being made to survivors and relatives of victims, but that it would be difficult under New Zealand law to provide special compensation to one group of victims.