Bus crash victims

Speaking to Radio and Television Tonga News, he says this can happen when students were not given a break to return home after the bus crash in Gisborne, but were told to continue with their fund raising drive.

Melino Maka of Tonga’s Council in Auckland told Radio and Television Tonga News, the students should have been monitored and given appropriate treatment and counseling after the accident.

He says an expert ‘Alo Foliaki residing in NZ followed up with the student’s mental health but before the ten days completed they continued with their concert.

A spokesperson for ACC told Kaniva News ACC would also cover the costs of everybody who was injured in the crash while they are in New Zealand.

The news came in the aftermath of Thursday night’s memorial service for student Sione Taumalolo, 11, and Talita Moimoi Fifita, 33, who died when their bus went off the road and down an embankment on State Highway Two near Gisborne.

Hundreds of people attended the memorial service at the Methodist church in Grey Lynn.

RNZ reports fifty-three people were onboard the bus when it plunged 100 metres down a steep bank killing 11-year-old Sione Taumololo, and 33 year-old Talita Fifita.

The crash victims were students of the Mailefihi Siu'Ilikutapu College brass band from Tonga who were on a fundraising tour around New Zealand.

The President of the school's alumni association in New Zealand said the bodies would undergo a post-mortem in Rotorua before arriving in Auckland today.

Mele Siuipi Latu said the remaining survivors of the crash would also arrive in Auckland today.

RNZ reports parts of State Highway 2 between Wairoa and Gisborne were shut from 6am today to allow for the removal.

Two people died when the bus, carrying a student brass band from Tonga, crashed through a barrier and plunged down a bank.

The bus was removed at about 9am and the road has since re-opened, Sergeant Cory Ubels said.

Mr Ubels, the police officer in charge of the serious crash unit for the Eastern District, said recovering the bus was a very difficult task.