25 Jan 2011

McCully delays trip to Tonga

5:22 pm on 25 January 2011

New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully has delayed a trip to Tonga due to a cyclone in the region.

Mr McCully's office says his flight was cancelled on Tuesday after Cyclone Wilma gained strength.

He was to meet the Pacific Island nation's new ministers but the visit will be rescheduled.

The Category 3 cyclone was heading for Tonga's main island of Tongatapu on Tuesday afternoon and has already caused damage to other countries in the Pacific.