Very bad news for Tongans on Christmas Day as New Zealand new media reports that a bus  carrying a college group from Vava'u in Tonga who were on their way to Gisborne to perform at a church today, has crashed yesterday killing at least one person and injuring the 45 others on board.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/321199/tongan-college-group-in-de... [2]

According to the breaking news the bus plunged 50 metres down a bank south of Gisborne.

Reports said two people were killed in the crash, but police have only confirmed one death.

Police said the bus appeared to have crashed through a barrier, on State Highway 2 near Wharerata about 30km south of Gisborne.

Five people were flown to hospitals in Gisborne and Hastings with various injuries.

Of the 46 people on the bus, nine were taken to Gisborne Hospital by ambulance and the rest were in triage at an ambulance base.

The chair of the Tongan Advisory Council, Melino Maka told Radio New Zealand that the bus had been confirmed to be carrying a college group from Vava'u in Tonga who were on their way to Gisborne to perform at a church today.

Kristina Williams started a Givealittle fund for the victims, saying she was one of the first people on the scene.

The page said the group had just arrived in the country from Tonga and all their belongings are trapped and strewn down a steep bank.

Now they had only the clothes they were wearing at the time of the accident, the page said.

Ms Williams said she was in admiration of the group's composure, attitude and thanks towards one another and their helpers.

The road between Wairoa and Gisborne remained closed overnight but reopened this morning.