cyclone recovery

Tonga's budget focuses on post cyclone recovery

Pohiva Tu'ionetoa expects the budget to be passed by Thursday despite debates over the government books going into the night.

He has earmarked $US48 million in his $US659m budget for cyclone recovery.

Rebuilding a stronger and more resilient Tonga is the budget's theme, Mr Tu'ionetoa says.

"We have our normal priorities like the education, health and so forth and development projects that will be decided like climate change projects and so forth but the impact of the cyclone, that's the main focus."

Free chicks to help Tongans recover from cyclone

Kaniva News reported the government was giving 10 free chicks to each family signed up to the programme.

The scheme was providing the baby chickens in an effort to encourage good nutrition and reduce Tongans' reliance on unhealthy imported foods.

The Ministry handed out 1,890 chicks last week and hopes to issue 40,000 infant poultry by the end of the year.