Bali Bombings: Families to attend 10-year anniversary

The Government will pay for the family members of New Zealanders who died during the Bali bombing and those seriously affected to attend a 10-year anniversary ceremony in Bali.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully announced today the Government will pay for those who were seriously injured and up to two family members of those that died to attend the ceremony on October 12.

Three New Zealanders - Jamie Wellington, 31, Mark Parker and Jared Gane, both 27, were among the 202 people killed when a bomb ripped through a popular nightspot in downtown Kuta, just over a year after the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US.

The victims included 88 Australians, 32 Indonesians, and 24 British citizens.

Mr McCully said it was the deadliest act of terrorism in Indonesia and the Asia Pacific region in recent times.

He said the ceremony will mainly focus on the large number of Australians who died.

"The New Zealand Government is keen to ensure that New Zealanders affected by the attack are able to be represented," he said.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard would attend the memorial service on the holiday island.

The Australian Government have given an assistance package to the family members of the 88 people who died, to cover airfares, ground transport, accommodation, travel and visa costs.

Amanda Stanaway of Auckland was honeymooning with then husband Andrew when the blast occurred in 2002.

She said in August Ms Gillard's offer to survivors and their families was beautiful.

"But I don't think New Zealand's in that position - it's too small a country. It would be nice, but a bit far-fetched."

The New Zealand Government helped about 75 people get to Australia and New Zealand commemorations in Bali in 2003 and another 10 to attend a service in Wellington.

Ms Stanaway said she had to fight hard for funding to attend the 2003 commemoration, which she described as "healing".