Habitat For Humanity New Zealand

Habitat For Humanity New Zealand

For release: 2 March 2010

Habitat For Humanity NZ To Help Cook Islands Recover From Cyclone

Habitat for Humanity New Zealand is poised to help the Cook Islands recover from the devastating onslaught of Cyclone Pat.

Habitat is planning a programme that will see New Zealand and Cook Island volunteers working together on a massive house rebuilding programme on the island of Aitutaki. The programme will be designed along similar lines to Habitat New Zealand's current project in tsunami-ravaged Samoa.

The organisation's Samoa Project Manager, Lou Maea, has just returned from a visit to Aitutaki, where he met with Government officials and other disaster response agencies. He describes their response as very enthusiastic, after hearing of Habitat's work in Samoa.

Next week, Habitat New Zealand's CEO, Pete North, is also to meet with Cook Islands Government officials and other organizations, to further develop plans for the recovery effort. Meanwhile, Habitat has launched an appeal to raise $300,000 for facilitating its Cook Islands rebuilding programme.

Cyclone Pat struck Aitutaki in the early morning of 10 February 2010. Strong winds with an estimated speed of up to 200km per hour caused extensive damage to the popular tourist getaway, renowned worldwide for its stunning beauty.

According to the Red Cross some 98 houses were completely destroyed and hundreds of others extensively damaged. Assessments of repairs and new homes required are still being made.

"With the people of Aitutaki struggling to come to terms with their loss and with many of them facing an indeterminate time in emergency shelter, Habitat for Humanity New Zealand believes it simply must respond. Moreover, given our experience in building fales for many Samoans left homeless by last year's tsunami, we are particularly well placed to help out on Aitutaki," says Mr North.

"The cyclone damage on Aitutaki may not seem huge when compared to the horrendous results of the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, to which Habitat for Humanity International is also mounting a response. However, the Cook Islands is a very close Pacific neighbour, and Cook Islanders are New Zealand citizens. So we can't let them down.

"We know we have the ability to respond. But we still need help from generous New Zealanders to ensure that we have the financial means to assist our neighbours rebuild their homes and lives," he adds.

Donations to Habitat's Cook Islands appeal can be made by phoning 0800 44 22 48 or visiting www.habitat.org.nz/donate.

Habitat for Humanity is a non-denominational Christian not-for-profit organisation that helps more than 60,000 families across the globe into homes every year.

The organisation aims to help build sustainable communities and eliminate poverty housing worldwide. Habitat New Zealand has helped more than 350 families into their own homes in New Zealand since its establishment here in 1992.

ENDS