New Zealand High Commissioner Tiffany Babington presented a NZ$7 million grant contribution to the Acting Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Finance and National Planning, Kilisitina Tuaimei’api today.
The contribution is part of the NZ$10 million package of assistance announced by New Zealand Prime Minister Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern during her visit to Tonga in March 2018 for Cyclone Gita recovery efforts.
Prime Minister Ardern announced that New Zealand’s funding would contribute to the Government of Tonga’s priorities, such as restoring the electricity network and getting children back to school. Some of NZ$7 million will be spent on reprinting primary school curriculum materials damaged in the cyclone and as requested by the Government of Tonga.
The balance of NZ$10 million (NZ$3 million) will replenish supplies used to restore the electricity network following TC Gita. The replenishment will ensure that the Tonga Village Network Upgrade can be completed by the end of 2018.
