Tongans in Northland keen to help Cyclone Gita victims

Reverend Kuli Fisi'iahi of Dargaville is among hundreds of Northland-based Tongans communicating with their families in Tonga through Facebook. Photo/John Stone

Northland-based Tongans are desperately trying to speak to loved ones on the island after Tropical Cyclone Gita caused flooding and widespread damage.

Tongans in Dargaville will meet this weekend to decide how to help the thousands whose houses were flattened by Tropical Cyclone Gita and those without power and water.

Wind gusts of up to 278km/h pounded the island kingdom on Monday evening, with more than 3000 people headign to evacuation centres on the main island Tongatapu.

Two Northlanders are keen to fly to Tonga to see their families but all flights this weekend are fully booked.

Wesley Methodist Church minister Reverend Kuli Fisi'iahi of Dargaville said the island had poor phone reception so Tongans in Northland mostly relied on Facebook to communicate with affected families.

Mr Fisi'iahi said his wife would fly to Tonga as soon as she could book a flight.
"I grew up amongst hurricanes and cyclones but this was the worst in 60 years. Water covered almost every house on Tongatapu and Eua, even if they escaped the winds."

His sister is a nurse at the main hospital in Tongatapu and said power cuts forced the burial of nine bodies that would normally be kept in a morgue for up to one week.

Whangarei resident Favava'u Davis said her parents and brother took shelter in a church hall on Monday night after their house was flooded.

She plans to go to Tonga for a weekend to see them.

On Tuesday morning, she said only her father Sione Pasi went back home to check on his two dogs before returning to the evacuation centre.

"Getting in touch with them proved difficult as it was very windy and rainy. They've never been to an evacuation during previous cyclones."