The Wanganui District Council's reconstruction team leaves for Samoa in the weekend.
The 11-strong team leaves this Saturday for the village of Satitoa, which was devastated by the September 30 tsunami. The team will return on December 15.
The team will construct an all-purpose communal building for the villagers, to be paid for from the $40,000 raised by the Wanganui community after the tsunami.
The team will also deliver books, sporting and other recreational equipment for the 100 children that live in Satitoa.
Wanganui Mayor Michael Laws said the team left with his blessing and the blessing of local Samoans, despite some members of the Samoan community initially expressing concern about the project.
``We have had some planning issues around this project but they are all sorted,'' Mr Laws said.
``In addition, our communication with the local Samoan community wasn't as clear and consultative as it might have been. But the fact we now have united support for this enterprise is noteworthy.
``The aim is to make a real and tangible difference in Samoa and to create a long-standing relationship with these wonderful people.''
Mr Laws said he would be promoting a council-Pasifika working party that would give Pasifika people resident in Wanganui ``a ready council reference''.
Mr Laws said he was impressed by the generosity of the Wanganui community and praised councillor Ray Stevens for leading the fundraising efforts.
The reconstruction teams consists of: Danny Jonas, Allan MacGibbon, Tim Thorne, Blake Jones, Graham Hoskin, Alan Hoskin, Quentin McGregor, Bruce Baldwin, Keith Smith, Anne-Marie Emerson and Tumema Leafa.
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