Appeal generates seven containers

Peter Hynes, right, from Hooker Pacific and Napier Port senior business manager Andrew Locke check off a container of donated goods for Vanuatu. Photo / Warren Buckland

For Ahuriri woman Joylene Whibley and her volunteer crew the target a month ago was simply to fill a container with goods to help rebuild cyclone-battered Vanuatu.

The generosity of individuals, businesses and community organisations did better than that: they filled seven.

"It has just been incredible," Ms Whibley said.

Apart from the huge collection of goods and supplies for the mission the aid programme also got the "we can help" approach from the company set to ship the containers to Port Vila for their May 11 arrival.

Swire Shipping will take two of the seven containers free of charge and has offered a generous discount for moving the other five.

To cover the transportation costs an appeal for funds has been launched alongside the appeal for bedding, clothing, tools, medical equipment, food and general household items.

About $17,000 was raised, Ms Whibley said, adding Napier Port management had also offered to make up any extra that would be required.

The port's commercial manager Andrew Locke said the company was pleased "to play our part in conjunction with Swire Shipping - to ensure the generous donations that have been collected from across the Hawke's Bay community will get to where they are needed".

Swire shipping has a long history with Vanuatu and the company's commercial manager Tony Spelman said it was delighted to be part of the assistance programme.

Freight company Hookers Pacific has also stepped in to look after getting the containers to various pick-up points.

The company's chief executive officer Jon Kyle said the company was pleased to be part of the assistance and support the people of Vanuatu needed.

Ms Whibley said, "Everyone has made significant contributions - it has just been remarkable."

She and her partner operate freight and storage company Tranzstore in Ahuriri and put in their time and funding to organise the containers and collections of goods.

The Baptist Church in Hastings became involved, as did Hastings St Mary's, Knox Church, Taradale High School, Napier Central School, Port Ahuriri School, several as appeal collection points.

"People have come forward with everything the people over there will need, and a lot of it has been bought new - the rest is pretty well near new."

Bedding, linen and mattresses had been donated, with Big Save and Royston Hospital providing much of it.

Ms Whibley said those items would be vital as it meant beds at the two outlying hospitals they were destined for could again be used and wards could re-open.

A large number of general household items and tools had been donated, as had medical supplies including water bottles and water purifiers.

Non-perishable packed foods like corn had also been gifted to the appeal.

Three of the containers will be looked after by Red Cross while two will go to schools across the devastated region.

They had been put together by Taradale High School and Port Ahuriri School.

One container overseen by the Baptist Church would be donated as a free op shop for people to take what they needed while another, steered by the Havelock North Village Lions Club, would go to a badly affected outlying island and contained clothing, blankets, tools and items to help create shelter.

"Everybody has been so generous - it is a great outcome," Ms Whibley said.