How to send food and clothes from NZ to Niua

Tonga Red Cross has a programme for restoring family links for those affected by the Tsunami that harmed Niuatoputapu – just as it did during the sinking of the Princess Ashika and other disasters says Tonga Red Cross secretary general, Sione Taumoefolau from Nuku’alofa.

And NZAID is anticipating ideas about recovery and rehabilitation of Niuatoputapu being discussed by the Tongan government.

Tonga Red Cross advises that there is a phone people in New Zealand can use to make limited phone contact with Niuatoputapu (Niua). From NZ phone 00676 21360. Leave your name and NZ phone number. Leave the name of the person you want to speak to in Niua. The Red Cross team in Niua will call the NZ person from their satellite phone.

Meanwhile, more detail is now available about the opportunity for getting more of the necessities of life to families in the three villages of Niua – as a result of generosity by the Samoan Tsunami relief project. People who want to place a cubic metre of dry food and clothing in the container for Niua families should get their packed and labelled contributions delivered to Mangere or West Auckland by 9 am this Saturday morning, 10 October.

The contribution should be delivered to Lotofale’ia instead of, as previously advised, 15 Manning Cres, Mangere. The West Auckland collection point is still Corban Estate, Henderson. It will be taken free of charge on the NZ navel vessel Canterbury to Niua, on its emergency trip to Samoa, which leaves this weekend. It might reach Niua two or three days later.

The Tongan Advisory Council (TAC) is organising this emergency project, and further information is available from its chair, Melina Maka on 0275635466 or melino@pasefikasolutions.com. Find out more at www.tonganz.org/niuatoputapu tsunami 09

The TAC is still awaiting advice from Oxfam New Zealand and other potential partners in its emergency and follow up recovery and rehabilitation initiatives.

Early ideas about Niua reconstruction

On Day five of Operation Niuatoputapu, October 4, New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID) reported on early indications of recovery and rehabilitation needs.

On Day six Peter Shackleton, Emergency Response Team Programme Manager, NZAID told DecisionMaker publications it was too early to be clear about the how the needs would be addressed.

He says “because housing is so central to people's wellbeing and happiness, it's important to get reconstruction of housing right.

“The people affected will need to be extensively consulted on what they want and where they want it, to ensure that they get housing that is appropriate to their needs and preferences, and that they will use” he says.

This process takes time to do right (though needs to be balanced with the importance of getting good shelter over people's heads) - it will be days if not weeks before we know much detail on how housing reconstruction will happen” says the NZAID emergency response manager.

NZAID says “basically, New Zealand stands ready to assist Tonga in the reconstruction of Niua.

It's up to the Tongan government to conduct an assessment (with the help of NZ, UN and other donors if they want it) and describe what assistance they want NZ to provide Mr Shacleton says.

Assessments up to now have focussed on emergency needs (food, water, shelter). I understand the Tongan government will start to look at longer term recovery and rehabilitation needs in the next couple of days.

He has unconfirmed reports that the Tongan government will be sending a team from Nuku'alofa on Day seven specifically to look at Niua recovery and rehabilitation.

NZAID’s Day five update had concluded “priorities emerging include the need for clean water and sanitation; housing, and restoration of the affected area's tourism infrastructure”.
Tonga Red Cross assessed on Day five at least 78 houses were completely destroyed and 56 were half damaged in Hihifo, Falehau and Vaipoa on Niua – directly affecting 330 people. Seventy houses were fine, the Red Cross reported, although earlier Tongan Government figures assessed greater damage.

From Anthony Haas, Asia Pacific Economic News representative in New Zealand’s Parliamentary Press Gallery, author of the DecisionMaker Talking business columns and Director of the Centre for Citizenship Education: ahaas@decisionmaker.co.nz

© Scoop Media