Dave and Lee Smith of Orakei were holidaying at the Litia Sini Beach Resort at Lalomanu just a week before the tsunami hit.
They considered extending their holiday, but fortunately stuck to their original travel plans.
Relieved to have avoided tragedy, the pair are now rallying support to help resort
owners Joseph and Lydia To'omalatai rebuild their lives.
The Smiths, regular visitors of the family-run resort, are appealing throughout New Zealand for ex-guests to offer tools, expertise and materials to help rebuild the resort.
Mrs Smith contacted a resort staff member the day after the tsunami and was relieved to receive the text message "all OK".
All guests and staff survived the tsunami, but at least 40 people from the village did not.
Images of the destruction demonstrate how lucky they were to escape with their lives.
The resort's 21 fales stood 4m away from the high tide mark. The fales, restaurant, bar and office were now a mountain of debris. Only the concrete foundation remained intact.
Mrs Smith said the Litia Sini was directly in line with the tsunami and the other two resorts on Lalomanu Beach were wiped out.
The Smiths are devastated but they are determined to help the To'omalatais recover from the tragedy.
Mr Smith hoped to compile a database of services and materials which he will offer to them to help reconstruction.
Twenty ex-guests have pledged support so far, including an architect and retired builder.
The Smiths stayed at the Litia Sini every year with family and had established genuine friendships with staff and other guests.
The Smiths have been in constant contact with them since the tsunami.
Mr Smith will soon go to the Litia Sini and is looking forward to offering some practical support.
* If you want to help Litia Sini resort, please contact the Smiths by emailing them at smithandhenry@xtra.co.nz or phoning 09 524-9910.
How you can help
Pacific Cooperation Foundation
Deposits can be made at at any Westpac branch. All the money raised will go to the Samoan Government
Red Cross
- Make a secure online donation at redcross.org.nz
- Send cheques to the Samoan Red Cross Fund, PO Box 12140, Thorndon, Wellington 6144
- Call 0900 31 100 to make an automatic $20 donation
- Make a donation at any NZ Red Cross office
ANZ bank
Make a donation at any ANZ bank branch, or donate directly to the ANZ appeal account: 01 1839 0143546 00
Oxfam
- Make a secure online donation at Oxfam.org.nz
- Phone 0800 400 666 or make an automatic $20 donation by calling 0900 600 20
Caritas
- Make a secure online donation at Caritas.org.nz
- Phone 0800 22 10 22 or make an automatic $20 donation by calling 0900 4 11 11
TEAR fund
- Make a secure online donation at tearfund.co.nz
- Phone 0800 800 777 to specify Samoa the Philippines or Indonesia. You can also donate at CD and DVD stores.
Mercury Energy
- Donate at mercury.co.nz
or text the word Samoa followed by the amount you wish to pledge and your Mercury account number to 515 or by calling 0800 10 18 10.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is asking for help with the clean-up habitat.org.nz
