Disaster-relief shipping container from Hawke's Bay unpacked in Tonga

Tevita Faka'osi (centre), Loami Tu'akalau (right) and a Tongan National Emergency Management Organisation officer prepare to unpack the container in Tonga. Photo / Supplied

A large shipping container filled with essential disaster-relief supplies has arrived in Tonga, as the country struggles to restore normality after Cyclone Gita.

The Hastings District Council approved a grant of $10,000 on March 22, to assist the Tongan Hawke's Bay Community Governance Committee with the cost of shipping supplies to the victims of the cyclone.

The 12m container filled with just over $10,000 worth of food, clothing, water and hygiene supplies arrived in Tonga on May 22and was last week unpacked and distributed throughout the community.

Tonga was ravaged by the category four storm on February 12 with winds of up to 278km/h. The storm ripped roofs off homes and caused widespread flooding, electricity outages and water shortages.

Loami Tu'akalau of the Tongan Hawke's Bay Community Governance Committee says the effects of Cyclone Gita continue to cause heartache for the people in his home country.

"On a scale of zero to 10, with 10 being life back to normal, Tonga is sitting at about two. We all have someone who is still struggling back at home because of the cyclone."

Tu'akalau says when they put the call out to the Tongan community for donations, the response was quite amazing.

"People arrived with food, clothing and emergency supplies all bought from local Hawke's Bay stores. Many of the local workers under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme also gave items for their families back in Tonga."

Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst says the council's decision to help send disaster relief aid to Tonga was an easy one.

"Hastings has a significant Tongan community, many of whom have family and friends in Tonga who needed help with basic supplies to get them through the recovery period. Naturally, they wanted to help their cyclone-stricken loved ones in their homeland."

Hazlehurst says the council has donated money to disaster funds in neighbouring countries in the past.

"We have given two donations of $10,000 to the New Zealand Red Cross for the Samoan Earthquake and Tsunami Appeal, and to the New Zealand Red Cross for the Victorian bushfires relief fund, both in 2009."

Tu'akalau, speaking on behalf of the Tongan community, says he is so thankful for the council and the wider community for their generosity.

"This shows the combination of love and concern for the desperate need of Tonga which was heard and felt throughout Hawke's Bay".