Results for Outer Islands

The Prime Minister, Dr. the Hon Feleti Vaka'uta Sevele, spent the weekend in Niuatoputapu, in order to review the status of the emergency relief work on the island since it was declared nationally as a disaster zone on 30 October.

The Australian Government has provided a $1 million package of support to assist in the relief and recovery efforts on the island of Niuatoputapu after it was severely damaged by Tsunami waves on 30 September 2009.

The first part of Niuatoptapu relief operation isnearing completion, according to Paula Ma‘u, Deput Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office, who is visiting the area.

A bank vault that was swept into the sea by the September 30 tsunami at Niuatoputapu has been recovered intact with cash, wet, but fully accounted for.

The relief effort in Niuatoputapu stepped up a gear yesterday with the arrival of the New Zealand navy's multi-purpose vessel, HMNZS Canterbury. The helicoptering in of supplies began straight away and continued on Wednesday, though there has been some delay in the bringing ashore of vehicles and heavy clearing equipment due to heavy seas and the difficulty of loading onto the landing craft.

Gas supplies to the Ha'apai Group of islands have ceased for the past two weeks after Uata Shipping Company the owner of the sole inter island ferry MV Pulupaki restricted the shipment of hazardous goods onboard its passenger vessel; the lack of gas leaving tourism operators, businesses and home frustrated as they return to cooking on open fires.

The REVI, a French Navy Ship departed Nuku'alofa on its second trip to Niuatoputapu this afternoon with 30 tonnes of cargo of food, diesel, medical supplies and tyres donated by the Tongan Government, local churches and other organisations.

Lying injured in Vaiola Hospital, 65-year-old Sulifa Losalu mourns the loss of her beloved husband Heneli Losalu (69) who died helping her to escape the September 30 tsunami wave they saw rushing toward their Hihifo, Niuatoputapu, home engulfing everything in its path.

Responding to an appeal for drinking water and blankets in the tsunami devastated island of Niuatoputapu, Air New Zealand in Nuku'alofa this afternoon handed over a shipment of bottled mineral water, blankets and overnight kits to the Tonga Red Cross.