Her Majesty’s Charity has received a donation of NZD $40,000 from the Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem Grand Priory in New Zealand, to support the ongoing recovery efforts and relief supplies to the Tongan communities affected by the volcanic eruption and tsunami of January 2022.

Queen Nanasipau’u received a cheque from the Grand Prior of the Order, Professor Brett Delahunt, at the Royal Palace, in Nuku'alofa on 4 October.

HM's Chairty also assists the elderly and vulnerable members of the society.

The Grand Prior’s visit to Tonga is to foster closer working ties with the Charity, and to further explore possible avenues for collaboration and to provide continuous support for the people of Tonga, the Palace Office stated.

The Order of St. Lazarus

The Order of St. Lazarus is an Order of Chivalry established in 1098 during the Christian Crusades and was predominantly focused on providing care for lepers and outcasts in the Middle Ages. The Order works throughout the world. It was founded in New Zealand in 1962, where it supports Maori and Pacific communities through sponsorship of a variety of programs. It has collaborated with the New Zealand Police on providing victim support, and supported the funding of  medical research including Research for Life, patient aftercare support programs for those who have undergone cancer treatment, provision of hospital equipment, and other rehabilitation programs.