New Zealand will provide an extra NZ$10 million for post cyclone reconstruction, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in Tonga today.
She made the announcement after meeting with Tongan Prime Minister ‘Akiliksi Pōhiva.
Hon. Pōhiva welcomed Ms Ardern to Tonga yesterday and thanked New Zealand for its help with the recovery from the devastation caused by Cyclone Gita.
Today Ms Ardern was due to attend a Women’s Leadership Breakfast, visit Fasi moe Afi Government Primary School and the village of Pili.
At the school Ms Ardern saw school children learning in the tents they have been using since the cyclone destroyed several classrooms.
At the school she handed over school materials funded by the New Zealand-funded Pacific Literacy and School Leadership Programme.
She also visited the temporary Parliament House, where she was received by the speaker, Hon. Fakafanua.
This the first time Ms Ardern’s has paid an official visit to Tonga since becoming Prime Minister.
During the New Zealand delegation’s visit to Tonga, Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced the appointment of Tiffany Babbington as High Commissioner to Tonga.
New Zealand is committed to investing $NZ64.6m on energy, policing, justice and education in Tonga over the next three years.
Prime Minister Ardern has been visiting Pacific Islands with a delegation of New Zealand officials and politicians and is due to end her tour in the Cook Islands.
