A community-driven initiative to send food and non-perishable items to Tonga has surpassed the expectations of organisers, with more items donated than could be delivered.
The drums are loaded on to a truck in Gisborne prior to being transported to Auckland for shipment. Photo: Paul Rickard/Gisborne Herald via LDR
On Wednesday afternoon, Mainfreight trucks rolled out of Tongan Wesley Methodist Church in Gisborne with 108 large drums - each packed with essential items for families in need following the devastation of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai eruption last month.
One of the event's many organisers, Seine Ma'Afu, said the response had left her full of joy.
"We can't wait to take it up to Auckland, and then send it to Tonga, to our families, so this is neat. They're so very grateful. They've already got the pictures of their drums and their names."
The 108 drums surpassed the original goal of 90 and was a huge achievement considering organisers were struggling to find empty vessels in the early stages of the initiative.
But businesses and community leaders stepped up, putting out a call for the containers that was ultimately answered.
In the end, there was a surplus of items which they hoped could be sent over at a later date.
"We just kept on filling because we were so fortunate to get so many drums," organiser Sia Nia Nia said.
"They're going to do another lot in six weeks' time if we get some more drums, and fill them up with clothes ... the food goes first."
Pictured with a sample of the drums of essential items are (from left) area police commander Inspector Sam Aberahama, East Coast MP and Cabinet Minister Kiri Allan, organisers Pauli and Seini Ma’afu, Ikaroa Rawhiti MP and Minister Meka Whaitiri and organiser Mele Ma’afu Sinoti. Photo: Paul Rickard/Gisborne Herald via LDR
All of the drums were transported to Auckland today where they will remain before being loaded on to a ship on 26 February.
Once the drums arrive in Tonga, an announcement will be made over the local radio station that they are ready to collect from the wharf.
East Coast MP Kiri Allan, who was at the church on Wednesday, said the end result was the culmination of about a month of hard work from the community.
Civic, business and community leaders had pulled together to organise a successful event, she said.
"We all got on our phones and worked out who was who in the zoo. And I'm just so stoked that Tairāwhiti has come in to wrap up our Tongan whānau."
Allan said the morning had been "quite emotional" as families realised how much love had poured in from across the region.
Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai erupted in mid-January, resulting in a tsunami that left three people dead.
The Tongan government said 85 percent of its population had been affected by the disaster.
Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air