Cyclone-relief donations from Tongans in New Zealand and other ordinary Kiwis will be arriving in Vava’u from the 11th of April.
Three container loads of goods, collected by the Vava’u Relief Committee have left New Zealand on the Olo Mana. The containers are carrying family-to-family donations as well as many items of non-perishable food donated by Churches and individuals in New Zealand for the Vava’u community at large.
“I am travelling to Tonga to receive the containers and to ensure that all donations get to the right people and the right village after they are unpacked,” says Vava’u Relief Committee Chair, Jenny Salesa.
“I am really grateful to all of the media who have supported our calls for community donations and to the many people who then contributed food items, in particular the many Tongan Church congregations who answered the call as well as the Robertson Road Niuean Church in Māngere.
“My committee is also delighted to be able to offer Vava’u families in New Zealand the chance to support their families back home.
“Thanks to all of these wonderful people, three container loads of non-perishable goods have left New Zealand destined for Vava’u.
“My thanks also to Matson Shipping, which has donated and shipped the containers for free; to Ultimate Transport, which transported the containers within New Zealand for free; to the Lotofale’ia Tongan Methodist Church in Mangere, which hosted the containers while they were packed; and to the Tongan Government, which has waived port and customs duty fees,” Jenny Salesa said.
