Tonga

The fund will assist in rehabilitation following the devastation of Cyclone Gita on Tongatapu and Eua earlier this week.

China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, Wang Yi sent a message to Prime Minister, a day after Cyclone Gita hit Tonga extending heartfelt sympathy to the Government and people of Tonga, vowing that China is ready to provide emergency disaster relief assistance within its capacity, and believing that with the joint efforts of the Tongan government and people, Tonga will be able to overcome the disaster and rebuild the country.

Two years ago, he was marching into the Rio summer Games carrying the Tongan flag shirtless and sporting an oily torso - last week, at sub zero temperatures, he did the same in South Korea at the Winter Olympics.

His taekwondo dream ended in a 19-1 opening-round defeat in Brazil and having turned to the snow Taufatofua's ambitions are to "finish before they turn the lights off" and "don't ski into a tree".

Immigration New Zealand said today there were no imminent planned deportations to Tonga, and it would take a pragmatic and compassionate approach to the issue.

"INZ always takes into account all the circumstances in an individual case before going ahead with any deportations, including the effects of Cyclone Gita," a spokesman said.

But Richard Small said while deportations may be suspended for a short period, officials needed to think about how long it would take for countries to recover from natural disasters.

Despite this, people in the kingdom are still maintaining good spirits.

In the main street of Nuku'alofa, Tafi led a group of half a dozen young men, sweeping the road and collecting debris from the footpaths.

Tafi was doing this despite the fact his own house was completely destroyed by Cyclone Gita.

"We've been looking for and seeking assistance from our family overseas - if they can provide financial support to build a new house," he said.

Tafi didn't mind doing what he regards as his civic duty while he was effectively homeless.

In his royal address to the kingdom, King Tupou said the normal procedure for him is to receive information before and after a severe tropical cyclone.

Radio Tonga reports this time he listened together with everyone else in the country to the information provided by radio stations.

King Tupou said he waited until the roads were cleared of branches and debris before he toured the eastern villages on Wednesday, and yesterday he visited the central districts eastern villages of Popua, and Patangata and Nuku'alofa.

Over 1000 homes were damaged or destroyed when the category 4 cyclone hit Tonga's main island of Tongatapu four days ago.

Graham Kenna of the National Emergency Management Office said the Tongan armed forces had done a fantastic job clearing roads.

He said people in the community were also clearing up rubbish and debris as quickly as possible.

A Fiji Airways 737 aircraft left Nadi this morning with much-needed technical and emergency supplies. The supplies have been cleared in Nuku’alofa and will be ready for distribution by Digicel and relief agency personnel later today.

Digicel CEO Pacific, Colin Stone said, “The terrible effects of Tropical Cyclone Gita in Tonga are now clear and many people are in urgent need of assistance like water, shelter and food”.

Parliament needs a place to meet so MPs can process bills and laws that are required for the government’s 2018-2019 budget.

A Parliamentary spokesperson said the Speaker’s office was working urgently to decide on a suitable venue before informing all Members of Parliament.

Tonga’s parliament house, which is more than a century old, was flattened by tropical cyclone Gita.

Tonga has submitted a proposal to the Chinese government to fund a new Parliament House.

The Chinese Ambassador to Tonga Wang Baodong was welcomed at the Legislative Assembly in June 2017.

Elena Procuta was at a meeting with government and non-government agencies where conditions in evacuation centres were discussed.

Government figures showed 4500 people being housed in 108 evacuation centres around Tonga, since Cyclone Gita made landfall there on Monday night, ripping roofs off houses, destroying crops, and destroying a church as well as Parliament House.

Previous experiences had shown women and children could be susceptible to physical and sexual abuse when displaced by disaster, and Ms Procuta said protecting the vulnerable was a key priority in Tonga.

Matangi Tonga reports an 18-year-old man has been charged with the murder of an 18-year-old woman.

It's alleged he assaulted her with a machete on a road in Nuku'alofa the day after Cyclone Gita hit the capital.

The website reports police said the accused and deceased were in a relationship and had one child together.

The accused was allegedly intoxicated when he saw the victim walking with other people after swimming at a public pool on Vuna Road at Ma'ufanga.

A police spokesperson said the woman died on the spot.