Mele‘ana and ‘Ana Kofe return to their home at Koulo village, Lifuka Island after Cyclone Ian. Photo by Pesi Fonua, 13 January 2014.

The Christian World Service, the aid and development agency of New Zealand churches, has launched an appeal to support the women of Ha‘apai and Vava‘u organising clean-up operations in Tonga after the destructive Cyclone Ian on January 11.

They are part of Ama Takiloa a network of women’s groups throughout Tonga who have been involved in disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation.

“Responding after disaster is what these women have been training for over many years. They are strong women who know what needs to be done now and in the months ahead as they rebuild their communities. They need funds to make it happen,” said Trish Murray, International Programmes Coordinator, who has visited women on some of the affected islands.

Ama Takiloa has run workshops on disaster preparedness and climate change. They have supported each other to improve livelihoods across the island groups. They have repaired and maintained water tanks to make sure water is safe.

The director of Tonga Community Development Trust, Sione Fakaosi said they are waiting for the initial needs assessments from the women’s groups. Ama Takiloa is part of the Trust. They expect to help with food, water, shelter and medical needs.

In a statement today, CWS said it had worked with Ama Takiloa for a decade. “Representatives are attending the National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) coordination meetings in Nuku’alofa to plan the response.

“Ama Takiloa runs a plant nursery on Ha‘apai and holds regular workshops for local women to help them improve livelihoods. They know their communities well and can organise them to do what is necessary to rebuild and to make sure the most vulnerable people are taken care of.


Ha‘apai has already lost some of its land from rising water levels. It is made up of many small islands, some very remote and inaccessible.

Donations to the Tonga Cyclone Appeal can be made:

• 
•  On line and by direct deposit [2]
•  
• By Phone with a credit card: 0800 74 73 72
•  
• By Post to: CWS, PO Box 22652, Christchurch 8140

Supporting churches

CWS has been supported by New Zealand churches for 68 years. It is a member of the ACT Alliance (Action by Churches Together), which consists of more than 130 national churches and groups working in 140 countries for humanitarian assistance and development. ACT helps where needed regardless of race, religion or region.

CWS was established by the then National Council of Churches in 1945 and continues to be the official development, justice and aid agency of former members of the Conference of Churches in Aotearoa New Zealand. Today these include:

• Anglican Church of Aotearoa New Zealand and Polynesia
• Methodist Church of New Zealand
• Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand
• Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
• Christian Churches New Zealand
• Uniting Congregations of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Representatives from these churches sit on the CWS Council, which meets annually as the governing body.