Jones, Tuigamala Launch Samoa Tsunami Appeal

Notable Samoan public figures including All Blacks La’auli Michael Jones and Va’aiga Tuigamala have joined Samoan community leaders in Auckland to help organise and facilitate relief aid for tsunami victims in Samoa.

“The tsunami has affected the whole country and we share that pain. We thank everyone for their generosity and will make sure that the relief goes to those who are most in need,” said Jones.

New Zealand’s Acting Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Hon. Bill English, met the group on Friday (2 October 2009) and outlined how the New Zealand government will provide relief aid.

This includes transporting some of the relief aid aboard the naval vessel HMS Canterbury.

Mr English welcomed the proactive approach taken by the group, now known as Samoa Tsunami 2009 Appeal, which is headed by Samoa’s Consul General in Auckland, Afioga Fa’olotoi Reupena Pogi.

“We sincerely thank New Zealanders for their quick response, and will work closely with the community,” said Fa’olotoi.

A temporary office has been set up in Samoa House in Auckland to coordinate the supply and transport of relief. A number of fundraising activities are planned over the next few weeks along with memorial services.

The organising committee is communicating with the Samoan government. All proceeds will go through Samoa’s National Disaster Council which is chaired by Samoan Prime Minister, Afioga Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.

The Samoa Tsunami 2009 Appeal organising committee includes members from key Samoan advisory groups. They include the Fono Faufautua Samoa Auckland; Samoa Auckland City Community Forum, Samoa Fono North Shore, Samoa Potopoto Waitakere and Samoa Manukau, church ministers, judges, and airline and shipping agents. They are joined by representatives from local government, the private sector and the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs.

2. Public Briefing 2pm Monday 5 October

A public briefing session with representatives of the Auckland Samoan community is planned for 2pm, Monday 5 October.

The venue will be the Ground Floor, Samoa House, 283 Karangahape Road, Central Auckland. Representatives of the families of those who are most affected by the tsunami are invited to attend.

3. Collection Centres for donated items and containers

The Samoa Tsunami 2009 Appeal has received a number of free containers from Maersk Container Company to send items over to Samoa. The cost of transporting the containers has been donated by shipping companies, including Reef Shipping. The New Zealand Government has also indicated that some containers will be carried for free aboard the RNZS Canterbury.

The organising committee has decided to allocate the containers prioritising the most affected villages.

Two collection centres will open on Tuesday 6 October in Auckland to receive relief aid for tsunami victims in Samoa. Donations will be loaded into containers and shipped for free over the next few weeks.

One centre is at the Mau Theatre, Corban Estate, 426 Great North Road, Henderson. The second is at Te Wananga Aotearoa, 15 Canning Crescent, Mangere. Opening hours are 9am to 11pm.

Sailings are expected within the next few weeks. The priority items are water, non-perishable food and clothing. Donations from the public can be made in two ways:

(a) Items donated for general distribution in Samoa through the National Disaster Council, chaired by the Hon. Prime Minister of Samoa. Items for Tutuila, American Samoa are also welcome.

(b) Items donated for specific villages/families in Samoa who are most in need. At this stage, the guideline is for one cubic metre per family. A number of specific containers are earmarked for urgent relief in the worst-affected villages.

Items for specific villages/families should be directed to the following collection centre(NB: some villages are covered by both centres):

Collection Centre, Henderson
Donations for specific villages/families in Saleaumua, Mutiatele, Pue, Malaela, Satitoa, Poutasi, Saleapaga, Lalomanu, Lepa. General donations and Tutuila

Collection Centre, Mangere
Donations for specific villages/families in Ulutogia, Vailoa, Poutasi, Saleapaga, Lalomanu, Saanapu, Siumu. General donations and Tutuila.

The Samoa Tsunami 2009 Appeal organising committee sincerely thanks all donors for their support.

4. Samoa Tsunami 2009 Appeal –Westpac Bank Account
Name: Samoa Tsunami 2009 Appeal
Account Number: 03-0219-0593779-000
Address: c/- Samoa House
283 Karangahape Road
Auckland Central
Auckland 1010

The Samoa Tsunami 2009 Appeal organising committee sincerely thanks all donors for their support.

5. Memorial Services
Memorial services have been organised for 5pm on Sunday 11 October in Auckland.
The two venues are at the Trusts Stadium in Henderson, West Auckland and the Telstra Centre in Manukau, South Auckland.

ENDS

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