Niue team on a mission to aid NZ post-cyclone Gabrielle

Niue team with Hon. Kieran McAnulty MP for Emergency Management (NZ) and MP for Tukituki (Hastings) where team is based Anna Lorck | Photo credits: Fiafia Rex

As communities in New Zealand continue to recover from the devastation of Cyclone Gabrille which took a heavy toll on the Northern and Eastern regions of New Zealand in February this year, the government of Niue has offered support by sending a response team to assist and aid in its recovery phase. 

Niue’s mission team of four, who departed the island last week, include team lead and government disaster representative Robin Hekau Manager for the National Disaster Management Office NDMO. 

The Village Council Representative is Speedo Hetutu who is the Avatele VC Chairman. 

Non-government Organisation Representative Alana Fiafia Rex who is a National Project Specialist, Food and Agriculture Organisation and Oma Tafua President. 

Government project representative Annmarie Aholima who is Project Manager for the Green Climate Fund Readiness Program and Project Coordination Management Unit PMCU. 

The team will be in Hawkes Bay for a trip of two weeks and they will depart the region on Friday 7 July. 

According to Chief of Police Tim Wilson,“the mission is being led by Robin Hekau and they will be going to the Hawks Bay region where they will assist with outreach to the Pacific Island community and recovery. This was the aid the Premier offered to NZ when he met with PM Chris Hipkins.”

Left to right: Robin Hekau, Alana Fiafia Rex, Annmarie Aholima, Jaci Sinko (Senior Technical Advisor – Pacific Disaster Risk Management Programme, International Engagement Team who is NDMO’s liaison officer for NEMA) and Hetututama Hetutu | Photo credits: Fiafia Rex

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