Mayor Lianne Dalziel urges Christchurch to show its support for Tonga

Mayor Lianne Dalziel is encouraging people to pay back the kindness Tonga showed Christchurch after the earthquakes by donating funds to help the country recover from the weekend’s tsunami.

“After the Christchurch earthquakes Tonga, one of the Pacific’s poorest nations, raised a massive $705,000 for the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Fund through a radio-thon,’’ says Mayor Dalziel.

“The people of Tonga gave generously to support us in our time of need. Now, we have an opportunity to help them out in their time of need and I really hope that Christchurch residents will give generously.

“The best way to do that is by donating to the Red Cross through their website. We will have collection boxes at Tūranga and at our main suburban libraries if people want to donate cash. All the money collected will go the Red Cross,’’ Mayor Dalziel says.

“Please give whatever you can to support the people in Tonga as they work to recover from this devastating natural disaster. We don’t yet know the full extent of the damage in Tonga but it is clear there is a long road ahead.’’