Michael Field and Kate Chapman



International students killed in the Christchurch earthquake should be treated the same as Kiwis, Labour leader Phil Goff says.



His comments follow claims by a Chinese official that their families should get more money because of the country's one child policy.



Mr Goff said government could not make decisions based on foreign countries policies.



"I'm sorry you can't base your policy on that, there may be many students here that are only children in their families whether they be Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Filipino."



However, all international students and their families must be treated fairly and equally.



Seven Chinese nationals were named as dead and 24 missing from the language school in the CTV building. Many Japanese students were also at the school.



Chinese Ambassador Xu Jianguo has asked for extra compensation to be paid through ACC and embassy official Cheng Lee said their one child policy made the Chinese situation unique, Radio New Zealand reported.



"You can expect how lonely, how desperate they are, not only losing loved ones, but losing almost entirely their source of economic assistance after retirement."



The families of visitors killed in New Zealand are eligible for a one-off funeral grant of up to $4500 and a one-off survival grant of $4700 for a spouse and $2351 per child or dependent. Families of foreigners working here are also eligible for weekly compensation.



Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce said in addition to the ACC payouts students would have been insured and their families were eligible for Red Cross Funds.

