Prime Minister Hon Hu’akavameiliku met Matson shipping key staff in Auckland and acknowledged the company’s donation of relief goods and free shipping of community-donated goods from families and other donors in New Zealand to Nuku’alofa.

Matson said today the PM visited them on 21 April on his first official trip to New Zealand.

He thanked Matson General Manager Greg Chu; Sir Michael Jones, Director of Government and Community Relations; and other staff for the 30 containers Matson provided to the Aotearoa Tonga Relief Committee (ATRC) and shipped free of charge to Nuku'alofa.

A further 20 Matson containers were shipped at a special relief rate, supported by contributions of a variety of New Zealand companies and individuals pledging their support for the ATRC’s efforts. 

Matson’s vessel Liloa II was the very first ship into the Port of Nukualofa in the immediate aftermath of the Hunga Ha’apai eruption and ensuing tsunami and ashfall that devastated the Kingdom on 15 January, landing critical food products and other imports from the U.S. West Coast. 

Following this Matson deployed its vessels Kamokuiki and Papa Mau within a fortnight of the eruption to carry the initial shipments of containerized relief goods from New Zealand.

The special deployment of these ships was part of a NZD$375,000 relief effort initiated by Matson Chairman and CEO Matt Cox in the immediate aftermath of the eruption.

In addition, Matson launched an employee donation drive that matched donations from Matson employees with equal contributions from the company to the New Zealand Red Cross Pacific Tsunami Appeal fund for Tonga disaster relief. 

Mr Chu said, Matson is a Pacific company and many of our people are Pacific Islanders, so we know how natural disasters impact our islands and the challenges of recovery and rebuilding communities and villages.

"That is why we do our utmost in these times of need."

At the same time Sir Jones said, they are blessed and privileged to have been able to assist.

We acknowledge the partnership in hope ('amanaki) and love ('ofa) with the Aotearoa Tonga Relief Committee and their outstanding team at Hopetown Mt Smart and the Government of Tonga’s Disaster Emergency team, he said.

Quick response

The PM commended the positive impact of Matson’s donated goods and its quick response to the needs of the community in the very early stages of the disaster response.

"We are extremely grateful to Matson for their generosity and support of our people and the wider Tongan community both here and particularly back home in Tonga."

He said, whilst the large number of donated containers put pressure on Tonga's resources, particularly the work of customs, the support the military personnel assisted hugely in the timely and efficient distribution of the family and community donated goods of food, water and essential goods gifted by New Zealand companies and organisations.