'Ofa Atu Tonga': New Zealand remembers volcanic eruption

This time last year Tongans around the world were desperately trying to call their loved ones at home immediately after hearing of the devastating Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcanic eruption.

"Our world was upside down. It was like our heart was wrenched out of our body, hearing the news, thinking there would be no more Tonga," Valeti Finau, who lives in New Zealand, said.

To mark the first anniversary of the disaster, community leaders gathered at churches in Tonga and around the world.

In Auckland, New Zealand, an event was held by the Tongan Council of Churches, chaired by Reverend Tevita Finau and the Aotearoa Tonga Response Group led by MP Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki.

Kanongata'a-Suisuiki drove the community-led relief effort in Auckland and supported regions like Palmerston North which was headed by Nailasikau Halatuituia.

With tears streaming down her face, Finau clutched her granddaughter, Taufa Sialetonga, a little tighter this year as she reflected on the year that was at the commemoration service at Lotofale'ia Methodist Church in the suburb of Mangere.

"Families crying, looking at each other, not talking, fearing the worst," Finau said.

Her family had witnessed terrifying footage of what is now known to be the most powerful volcanic eruption ever recorded which was followed by a communication blackout.

"The tears of the moment last year, not knowing anything, it was so terrible, no news, thinking of the worst that there could be no more Tonga," she said.

Malo 'aupito Hope Town

Within days, relief groups were set up and they were coordinating donation drives; everyone got to work.

Aotearoa Tongan Response Group assistant secretary and Tongan Youth Trust leader Simulata Pope spoke at the Auckland church event on Sunday.

"Hold your loved ones tight," she said.

As the daughter of Reverend Ikilifi Pope, who was a founding member of the Youth Trust along with Jenny Salesa and Yvette Guttenbeil, the roots of service run deep.

She thanked the long list of supporters of the relief effort, dubbed Hope Town. It took thousands of hands to make it happen and reached thousands more.

"We thought that this was going to happen for three weeks, by the end of February it would be done. Low and behold it finished on the 12th of December 2022, it took a whole year," Pope said.

Royalty remember

A member of Tonga's royal family, the Honourable Phaedra 'Anaseini Tupou Veihola' Ikaleti Olo-'i-Fangatapu Tuita-Fusitu'a, also spoke at the event in Auckland.

She explained how she was shocked and scared like all Tongans living abroad. She too was desperately trying to get hold of her family after the eruption but for days, everyone was in the dark.

"I finally got a message back from my mum and I started crying," Hon. Phaedra said.

It was in the darkness that Tongans across New Zealand mobilised.

"It was really eye-opening to see how fast Tongan people can come together when something really affects us in such a traumatic way," she said.

Jenny Salesa, who is an Auckland-based MP, said the purpose of the event was to remember, but also to praise God.

"It is a praise service, Tongans' are getting together to just give thanks that so many Tongan lives were spared," Salesa said.

"The devastation could have been so much worse."

The Kingdom still stands

Community leader Pakilau Manase Lua helped launch the Aotearoa Tonga Relief Committee that is now a response group.

"I remember being at a family barbecue and seeing the footage on the news and my heart sank. I just thought 'Tonga is gone', especially Ha'apai because it is so low lying, I thought we were looking at a devastation, complete annihilation basically. So we decided to work and 90 containers later, the rest is history," Pakilau said.

Within a month of the blast, the New Zealand community rallied together and donated about NZ$10 million worth of supplies for Tonga.

A sea of red turned up to Mt Smart stadium, most cars carrying a Tongan flag and a boot full of an average of NZ$800 worth of goods.

They were packed into Matson shipping containers.

Boats, tractors and food supplies were also sent, donated by New Zealand's richest person, Graeme Hart.

Hart, who rarely talks to the media, told RNZ Pacific he had to act.

"So, we have a goodly number of Tongan people within our sphere and in our home and they were in need," Hart said.

"It's not complicated, they needed help, we were able to provide that help, and we are thrilled to be able to do that. We maintain a dialogue and a relationship with them and as their needs evolve, we will be there."

Tonga's Prime Minister, Hu'akavemeiliku Siaosi Sovaleni, is clinging on to the hope that things will get better.

The support from New Zealand was undeniable, he said.

"We appreciate the assistance from New Zealand and Australia and the neighbouring countries that came to our assistance straight after, not just providing food and water, but temporary building materials and what have you so we can actually get some shelters up for the affected families," he said.

With entire Islands having been wiped out by the disaster, support is still needed, with ongoing impacts still being felt.