The New Zealand Defence Force says water storage facilites are still a necessity two years after Cyclone Ian hit Tonga.
Water tanks installed as part of the New Zealand led exercise Tropic Twilight at the Faleloa Community Hall in Tonga. Photo: Supplied/NZDF
Hear the full interview with Lieutenant Colonel Josh Wineera on Dateline Pacific
The Defence Force is in Tonga to lead the humanitarian and disaster relief exercise Tropic Twilight which includes engineers from Tonga, China, and The United States.
Lieutenant Colonel Josh Wineera said the Ha'apai group was devastated by the cyclone and water installation is a much needed requirement.
"There's a number of community halls and churches where we've been able to use our engineers to bring in and just assistance with some of those plumbing and some of those engineering type tasks."
Lieutenant Colonel Wineera said a public ablution block and nine water tanks have been installed throught the two main islands of Ha'apai.
The project will be handed over to the Tongan Government.