Hopes fade for seven missing Kiwis

The number of New Zealanders missing in the most tsunami-devastated areas dropped to just seven names last night.

The number confirmed dead remains at two, Leonie Cosens and Craig Baxter. Mr Baxter's funeral is tomorrow.

Two more, Belinda and Andrew Welch, are presumed dead and a fifth man, Stephen Bond, is also believed dead, although his identity has not been confirmed.

But as survivors are crossed off the list, hopes fade for the names still on it.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday declined to name the seven people on its unaccounted-for list.

One of them is understood to be 24-year-old Shane Street, who set off on his OE six months ago, travelling alone.

He contacted his family in the Wairarapa on Boxing Day, just hours before the waves struck.

His father, Sid, knows he was in Thailand and it is believed he was in Phuket.

"We've been trying to email him, but heard nothing," said Mr Street last night.

In the stricken areas, eight New Zealanders remain in hospital but four were expected to be released today, the ministry said last night.

A total of 1010 New Zealanders are still unaccounted for in the affected areas. The ministry said 65 of those warranted a "concentrated effort" to determine their whereabouts.

Efforts to track the missing are being hampered by the confusion where huge clean-up operations are under way.

Many travellers and holidaymakers have been unaware of the gravity of the tragedy and so have not bothered to contact relatives.

Some families still waiting to hear news from loved ones are refusing to give up hope.

Neil Madsen, who grew up in Hamilton, had been teaching English in Bangkok since March and would often head to beaches on days off.

In Perth, his former wife, Susie, said he was the not type of person to stay in close contact. But she was becoming more anxious as time passed, and his two children, aged 19 and 21, were also worried.

"It's really frustrating, but if he was in the area I would have thought he would at least let someone know.

"I'm trying every avenue to track him down."

Mr Madsen's sister, Jeanne MacDonald, said the family were worried but she did not want to hit the panic button yet.

Belinda Welch's father hopes to visit the Thai coast within a year to mourn the daughter he now believes is dead.

John Croft, of Christchurch, has not heard from the couple since Christmas Eve.

He said the family were now certain his daughter and her husband had been in the Khao Lak area that was devastated by the tsunami.