Church service

Spirits revived in Tonga a week after Gita

Despite this Tongans everywhere gathered in church on Sunday in a show of unity and thanksgiving.

Bells echoed across the island yesterday morning as people made their way into the many churches scattered throughout the community.

Despite the fact many parishioners were without power and had suffered heavy damage to property, they seemed happy to come to church.

Songs and prayers for Tongan bus crash victims

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

The pair were part of a group of school students and band members who were in New Zealand on a four-week fundraising tour.

Family, friends and members of the wider Tongan community were among those who were at the memorial service at the Tongan Methodist Church in Grey Lynn.

Many of those who were on the bus when it crashed were also there, and a number of them had visible injuries.