Habitat for Humanity sets sights on Tonga

  • 22/04/2018
Damage in Tonga caused by Cyclone Gita.
Damage in Tonga caused by Cyclone Gita. Photo credit: Newshub.

A massive building project in Tonga is being kickstarted from south Auckland.

Devastation caused by Cyclone Gita has prompted Habitat for Humanity to pledge to support 500 homes in Tonga.

The group's CEO Claire Szabo says the campaign includes repairs on 300 houses.

"Following that we'll be looking at doing a further 150 major repairs and 50 full house reconstructions."

Ms Szabo says eight test homes they built in Tonga survived Cyclone Gita.

"We did eight houses as a pilot build in Tonga a couple of years ago, and we were very pleased to see that even though in the neighbourhood many of the houses were badly damaged or destroyed, our houses were all intact."

But to complete the project, Habitat for Humanity needs another $1 million. Donations can be made on its website.

Habitat for Humanity recently built its 500th house in New Zealand and completed its 500th home in Samoa.

An event will be held at the charity's south Auckland premises on Ormiston Rd at 1:30pm Sunday with Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio.

Newshub.