Tonga assistance

All money raised at the game will go to their Pacific neighbour Tonga after it was devastated by a tsunami and ash from an undersea volcanic eruption in January.

The match will be played on Saturday February 26 at Runaway Bay, near Southport, on the Gold Coast.

The day will include functions, sporting memorabilia auctions, and other activities around the game with all funds raised going directly to the re-build in Tonga.

The tragedy affected 84 per cent of Tonga's population, with homes, schools and hospitals either washed away or buried under the ash fall.

Fale Pasifika Manager Johnny Kumitau said the local council is putting money towards the first container.

He is now calling on local businesses in Whangarei to help fund the others to lighten the load for families.

"When something happens everyone comes together, we have a pretty tight Pasifika community right from Dargaville to Kaitaia," said Kumitau.

Food and water donations will be needed but also equipment to turn the soil and help reignite the agriculture sector decimated in the disaster, said Kumitau.

The Wellington Tonga Leaders' Council sourced two 40ft containers to carry these much needed essentials back to the Kingdom of Tonga.

The General Manager of the Council, Tae Moala-Mafi Tu'inukuafe, said the support towards the Tongan community has been overwhelming.

"We have been supported by the Porirua City Council, Taeaomanino Trust, Whanau Manaaki Kindergarten, and Victoria University, which has been amazing, led by Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban."

Earlier today, the prime minister together with Minister of Health Saia Piukala said that one of the first two reported cases has since tested negative - but he remains in isolation at Taliai Military Camp awaiting further tests.

The total number of positive covid cases in Tonga now stands at four - down from five originally announced yesterday.

Tonga remains in lockdown with all shops closed and people ordered to stay home.

Work is underway to establish the source of the infections and identify which variant it is.

The Tahiti Nui is expected to travel for four days to reach Nukualofa, bringing water, storage tanks and other material as part of an international relief effort.

The French Polynesian government contributed following Tonga's appeal for assistance, relayed via the Pacific Islands Forum.

The ship is carrying wood and tarpaulins to help build temporary accommodation for families and support reconstruction.

The cargo also includes clothes, sanitary products and non-perishable foodstuffs, collected during a week-long drive supported by the churches

Tonga faces a long road to recovery, with most of the population affected by the violent eruption and tsunami that followed, and many areas still scrambling to restore basic necessities.

Executive member Pakilau Manase Lua said loading the containers has been excruciating work.

While the gates have been closed to the public volunteers have been packing the containers.

Republic of Fiji Military Forces Commander, Major-General Ro Jone Kalouniwai said these personnel, consisting of Engineers, Medics, and other specialists will team up with the Australian Defence Force soldiers to carry out rehabilitation and further assessment in Tonga, following the impacts of the violent volcanic eruption and tsunami.

The Commander added, as per the initial planning process, the soldiers are expected to be on the ground, putting the hard yards, in a span of 10 days.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made the announcement after meeting with Tongan Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva in the capital Nuku'alofa this morning.

New Zealand has so far contributed $2 million of emergency relief to three Pacific countries hit by the cyclone - Samoa, Tonga and Fiji, $750,000 of which went to Tonga.

Ms Ardern arrived at the meeting in the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa with Foreign Minister Winston Peters.

Mr Pōhiva was flanked by his Finance Minister, Energy Minister, Health Minister, and Agriculture Minister.

The director-general of the ADB's Pacific Department said Gita was one of the most powerful cyclones in Tonga's recorded history and it had directly affected almost 80 percent of the population and damaged or destroyed around 2,000 homes.

Carmela Locsin said the grant will go towards restoring critical services, like water and electricity, clearing and disposing of rubble, and providing transitional shelter.

Initial emergency assistance of €100 000 (TOP 265 390) has been provided to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to help provide life-saving aid, starting with the most urgent needs for shelter, water and sanitation, as well as health assistance. The Commission has also activated the European satellite mapping system Copernicus, which has already provided maps of some of the most affected areas of the archipelago.