NZ provides extra $370,000 for cyclone response [1]
Monday, January 27, 2014 - 18:04
New Zealand is providing an additional $370,000 to assist relief efforts in Ha’apai, including sending over technicians to help repair the electricity network.
NZ Foreign Minister, Murray McCully, announced on January 24 that New Zealand will provide a frontend loader and tractors to clear debris covered land on the islands, hand tools for the less accessible islands and assist with the rebuild of the Tongan Government nursery.
He said crops were damaged in the cyclone and quick replanting is essential to prevent food shortages and to promote trade.
“In addition, we are supplementing our $1.4 million support package to repair the electricity network by sending six New Zealand-based technicians. They are Tongan-speakers familiar with the local environment and will speed the connection process by several weeks.”
McCully said their priority is to assist the Tongan Government’s recovery efforts so life in Ha'apai gets back to normal as quickly as possible.
The announcement brings New Zealand’s support for the cyclone response to $2.27 million.