Kiwi sets sail on quilt mission

A woman behind a quilt drive for victims of Cyclone Pam will deliver more than 700 blankets to Vanuatu when she arrives at the devastated island nation on Saturday.

Matamata resident Caroline Mason left Auckland yesterday on the P&O Cruise ship Pacific Pearl, which will deliver four shipping containers worth of supplies to Port Vila on April 25.

The 10-night cruise to New Caledonia and Vanuatu is carrying dozens of crates of canned food, baby formula, bedding, batteries, building materials, insect repellent, personal hygiene products, water, water containers, water purification tablets and a special delivery of hand-crafted quilts sent in from around New Zealand.

With the help of the Matamata Quilt group, each quilt has had a message of support sewn on.

Ms Mason said the quilt drive was a great way for people from all walks of life to contribute, especially those who could not afford to donate money.

"We've had 9-year-olds and 90-year-olds make donations and one batch has come from Christchurch where some women have made quilts, knowing how much comfort they can provide in the wake of a disaster," she said.

The items will be given to the Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office to be distributed.