February 14, 2018
Quick response to Cyclone Gita
Foreign Minister Winston Peters says New Zealand can be proud of its response to natural disasters in the Pacific.
The government yesterday earmarked a further $1.5 million to help with the emergency response and early recovery efforts in the wake of tropical cyclone Gita in Tonga, Samoa and Fiji, on top of the $750,000 allocated earlier this week more Tonga.
This latest funding will be used to replenish New Zealand Red Cross relief supplies in Tonga and help New Zealand NGOs to deliver emergency relief and early recovery activities.
Mr Peters says this country always responds at speed when its neighbours are in trouble.
"All and all this country can be proud of what it is doing, and it does not go unnoticed by the island people. They have got all these new friends trying to cultivate them,but when push comes to shove they know who they can rely upon," he says.
A New Zealand Defence Force C130 Hercules has delivered 12 tonnes of supplies to Tonga, and an Orion is surveying damage on the outer islands.
Cyclone Gita passed Fiji yesterday and is expected to track south of New Caledonia before turning south and weakening.
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