New Zealand’s Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) will provide a funeral grant of NZ$6000 for each of the two people who died in last weekend’s bus crash in Gisborne.
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.
It was attended by HRH Princess Salote Pilolevu Mafile’o Tuita and the Minister of Pacific Peoples, Hon. Alfred Ngaro.
RNZ reported that the president of the Methodist Church of New Zealand, Rev. Prince Devanandan, was among the church leaders who paid tribute to Taumalolo and Fifita.
“They came joyfully to this land to celebrate, to do their part for the school they were serving, but they are going back in this unfortunate way from us,” Rev. Devanandan said.
The bodies of Taumalolo and Fifita will be flown back to Tonga today (December 31)
The bus was carrying the Mailefihi Siu’ilikutapu College brass, which was on a fund raising tour of New Zealand.
Survivors began flying back to Auckland from Gisborne and some members of the band and the college choir played at Thursday night’s service.
They also played at a memorial concert at the House of Breakthrough Church in Gisborne on Wednesday night.
Kaniva News understands that seven people injured in the crash are still in hospital. Two are in Hastings, two in Waikato and three at Gisborne Hospital.
Meanwhile, ACC said the families of the deceased may receive additional payments.
The spokesperson for ACC said that while they were unable to discuss individual payments, in general terms, when a person died in an accident, ACC could also provide a one-off survivor’s grant of about $6455.00 payable to a surviving spouse of the deceased.
A one-off survivor’s grant of about$3200 can also be paid to any surviving children under 18 years of age.
A lump sum payment may also be available for permanent injury to an individual.