Didem Yaman, 31, was a PhD student from the University of Otago.

She lived in Dunedin but was visiting her friend, Sisi Xin, on February 22.

Didem had a medical appointment at The Clinic on the fourth floor of the CTV building and Sisi had accompanied her.

Didem, from Turkey, had been studying politics at Otago University for five years. She was the New Zealand representative for the Turkish think tank International Strategic Research Centre (USAK).

The general coordinator of USAK, Sedat Laciner, said Didem had worked as an academic in international relations at a university in Canakkale.

USAK had asked her to do a doctorate about relations between Turkey, Australia and New Zealand, he told Turkish media.

‘‘She was about to accomplish her goal and get her doctorate,’’ Sedat said. Didem was also the niece of an official from the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine & General Workers Unions. Representatives from the group laid a wreath at the CTV building site for Didem before heading to Greymouth tomeet officials from the Pike River mining tragedy.

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