Students set to help cyclone hit village

HELPING HANDS: Front from left, Kate Pearse, Summer Wynyard and Nikki Livingstone. Back, Yvaan Hapuku-Lambert and Liam Bauckham. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Cyclone Winston killed dozens of people and devastated Fiji on February 7.

It was the strongest tropical cyclone on record to make landfall over the country.

Among the badly damaged villages was the tiny island settlement of Wayalailai.

Hastings Intermediate principal Andrew Shortcliffe has been running a campaign to help rebuild the village which is home to their sister school of six years, Namara School.

"Each year I take our 20 prefects to visit Namara School, on Wayalailai Island to teach lessons, play sport and assist the school and village with the educational needs of their students," Mr Shortcliffe said.

He said they have become like family to many on the island, which has a population of 250 residents.

"With no power, phone or industry, it is a remote and special place to visit."

Mr Shortcliffe is running a number of initiatives with the help of current and former prefects to raise funds for his affected Fijian family. He will visit the island on Wednesday with a group of Year 13s to help with the rebuild.

The students are all former Hastings Intermediate Leadership Academy members, now at Hastings Boys', Hastings Girls', Woodford, and Karamu high schools.

With the help of these students, well over $10,000 has been raised for the people of Wayalailai Island, plus over 300kg of medical supplied and good quality second hand children's clothing.

"We've been well supported by an interesting mix of community groups from across Hawke's Bay," Mr Shortcliffe said.

Air New Zealand have given a free allowance for 350kg of clothing and medical supplies while Best House Travel have helped with travel arrangements and insurance.

Mr Shortcliffe said the medical supplies came from the Mahora and Flaxmere pharmacies, Dr Liffy Rimmer from Te Tai Whenua and Totara Health Flaxmere.

"The team also raised $4500 on their Givealittle site and even more through raffles which were sold by the intermediate's 100 ex-prefects."

The group will assist with the reconstruction of the school dormitory roof, replacing mattresses and curtains for the student dormitory, and ensuring medical supplies are abundant.

"We needed permission in writing from the Fijian government to bring between 50-100kg worth of supplies into the country so we can break them down into family medical kits."

Mr Shortcliffe said they will buy food, building supplies, flooring and a full set of new school uniform for each student.

"We are also purchasing new sports gear, school stationery for each of the three classes and the kindergarten group."

He said the Fijian military would not be able to supply and work on the school for 18-24 months. "We are being met in Nadi by a group of villages who will come over from the island by dingy to assist us with the shopping as many of the shops are not only recovering from the cyclone but also the recent flooding."

All members of the travelling party including Mr Shortcliffe, have fundraised and payed their own costs to go.

To donate go to https://www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/namaraschool.