Talofa Lava. Malo le soifua laulelei i le paia ma le mamalu o Samoa.

Malo mu’a ‘etau a’usia ‘ae ngaahi aho faingata’a ni

O le fa’aaliga lenei e momoli atu ai le agaga fa’amaise ile mamalu o Samoa o lo’o alala ma afifio i Aukilani nei.

Ko e popoaki fiekaungamamahi ki he kainga Tonga kotoa ‘i he fakamasiva kuo hoko ‘i Tonga.

On behalf of the Waitakere City Council I would like to express my deepest sympathies and condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones in this tragedy. Our prayers and thoughts are with you during this very difficult and testing period.

New Zealand has been quick to respond to this disaster with relief efforts well underway. The New Zealand Government is working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Australian Government to ensure that aid efforts are well co-ordinated and resourced.

The islands of Tonga and Samoa have experienced first hand the unpredictability of mother-nature. It is during these times that our Pacific communities in New Zealand need to band together and support as much as possible the relief efforts that are in place. From what I have seen through the news and the media, our brothers and sisters in Samoa and Tonga will need all the support we can muster.

With that in mind I would like to encourage all Waitakere residents to support relief efforts for this devastated nation. Internally within the Council a Waitakere Staff Fund has been set up for contributions from staff. We are also keeping a close eye on relief efforts within the region to see where Council’s resources would be best targeted.

In closing, words can not sufficiently express my thoughts and feelings to all those residents who have been affected by this tragedy. I am acutely aware of how close our communities are to our neighbouring Pacific islands. Please be assured that I am doing everything I can to determine the best ways that myself, councillors and our organisation can assist the aid efforts required for the people of Samoa and Tonga.

Ia Manuia Faka’apa’apa atu
Soifua

Mayor Bob Harvey
Waitakere City

ENDS

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