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.