By RNZ.co.nz and is republished with permission.

The Aotearoa Tonga Relief Committee is gearing up to collect and send non-perishable foods to Tonga in the wake of the twin disaster.

Air crew stack and secure pallets of disaster relief supplies to be sent to Tonga by Royal New Zealand Air Force, in the wake of a tsunami triggered by a volcanic eruption in January.
Another aid consignment for Tonga – this to be sent sometime this week by the NZDF Photo: Supplied / Dillon Anderson Photography via NZDF

The New Zealand Committee is urgently seeking donations of non-perishables like rice, flour, cooking oil, sugar, cabin bread, canned meat, toilet paper, and bottled water.

Priority will be given for family-to-family donations.

Co-chair of the Committee, Anahila Kanongata’a-Suisuiki asked for donations do not expire before at least July this year.

“We are providing a process where they can bring their goods to be sent to their loved ones in Tonga. People will then come to pack their goods into drums – evry item in each drum will be recorded. Big job, but every volunteer that we have got is willing to make it happen,” she said

She said donations can be dropped to Mt Smart Stadium this Friday between 9am to 8pm.

Fiji prepares for acid rain

Fijian authorities are warning the sulphur dioxide (SO2) concentration in the atmosphere has increased overnight and could result in acidic rainfall over the country.

The Department of Environment said it’s monitoring the air quality in Fiji, following the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha’apai volcanic eruption in Tonga last weekend.

Fijians are urged to cover all household water tanks and stay indoors in the event of rain.