A group of seasonal workers stranded by floodwaters in Hawke’s Bay, 50 of which are Tongans, were rescued near Hastings by personnel from the New Zealand Army and New Zealand Police using four Unimog trucks on Tuesday. “The floodwater was waist high, but the Unimog tyres and massive clearance meant we were able to get into the elevated areas needed to reach the seasonal workers,” NZDF stated today.
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Results for cyclone Gabrielle
Wednesday 15 February 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Wednesday 15 February 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Cold and hungry, after a day-long ordeal, some 50 Tongan orchard workers, who were stranded on their bungalow rooftops by rising floodwaters near Hastings, New Zealand, were rescued by the New Zealand Defence Force yesterday evening.

Tuesday 14 February 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
At least 50 Tongan seasonal workers who are stationed near Hastings are thought to be among the orchard workers stranded by heavy flooding in Hawke's Bay today, where emergency crews were trying to reach them. “There is still no luck in reaching the boys,” Dr. Fotu Fisi’iahi told Matangi Tonga at 3:30pm. Facebook videos showed the precarious situation of the men stranded on the rooftops.
