A six-man fund-raising delegation from Ha’apai is visiting Australia this week seeking assistance from the Tongan diaspora for development projects on Foa Island.

The delegation includes Ha’apai People’s Representative, Veivosa Taka, and five town officers from Foa Island: Viliami Tukutau from Lotofoa, Vaea Ta‘ufo‘ou from Faleloa, Sione Palu from Ha‘afakahenga, Pōtāufa Talakai from Ha‘ateiho si‘i, and Filimone Kalū from Fangale‘ounga.

They are opening discussions around the possibility of trade and support in the form of second hand materials for their projects, and coordinating with the town officers on the ground in Foa.

“What might be rubbish to you here in Australia, might be invaluable to us in Ha‘apai,” said Veivosa.

He said the development projects were much needed in Foa and committees were being set up in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Auckland to manage the Tongan diaspora support.

Brisbane Tongan Community member, Mrs Lēsini Vakalahi, who is from Foa, expressed her joy at the opportunity presented to reconnect with her childhood home.

“Growing up, we used to enjoy inter-village rivalry on Foa, but it’s so significant to see the Town Officers of each village on Foa unite and work together for a common cause,” she said. 

A Brisbane Foa working committee was elected during the meeting and endorsed by the delegation. The committee includes ‘Ilai Malaloi (Patron); Kēsomi Fatani Tavake (Chair); Soakai Afeaki (Co-chair); Teise Senituli (Secretary); Kapiolani Tapu‘osi (Assistant Secretary); Vaofatai Afu (Treasurer); Lavinia ‘Aholelei (Assistant Treasurer); Sulieni Layt (Media Liaison); Meita Fatani Tavake (Member); Mele Siutu (Member); Toakase Layt (Member); Liukava Tapu‘osi (Member) and ‘Ofa Fainga‘anuku (Member). 

The Ha’apai delegation are now in Melbourne meeting with the Tongan community and will head to New Zealand next week before returning to Tonga.