Off the wire
• Fujimori leads poll ahead of Peru's presidential elections  • Melbourne remains fastest growing Aussie capital  • Costa Rican parliament approves investment protection deal with China  • Mussels could hold key to assisted human fertility rates: Aussie researchers  • S. Korea's foreign currency borrowing posts double-digit fall in 2015  • Brazil participates in Chilean aerospace show to boost export  • Xinhua China news advisory -- March 30  • Left-wing Mexican senators campaign against Donald Trump  • 12 regional chief ministers approved for appointment in Myanmar: sources  • Chinese shares open higher Wednesday  
You are here: 　 Home

New Zealand steps up aid for rebuild of cyclone-battered Fiji

Xinhua, March 30, 2016 Adjust font size:

The New Zealand government on Wednesday trebled its total aid package to help rebuild public infrastructure in cyclone-battered Fiji.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully announced an additional package of 10 million NZ dollars (6.85 million U.S. dollars), saying the impact of Cyclone Winston last month was widespread and the task of restoring infrastructure would be long and expensive.

New Zealand navy supply ship HMNZS Canterbury's original deployment had also been extended and it would remain in the area until mid-April to support construction tasks by the New Zealand Defence Force in the northern Lau Islands.

The bulk of the funding would be used to rebuild schools, evacuation centers and medical facilities on Vanua Balavu and elsewhere in Fiji.

"We will also be working, through our wider aid program in Fiji, to help stimulate the local economy by providing targeted support to the dairy sector and agricultural exporters," McCully said.

This latest package brought total New Zealand aid to Fiji following Cyclone Winston to more than 15 million NZ dollars (10.27 million U.S. dollars).

The cyclone killed at least 42 people, and damaged or destroyed thousands of homes and other buildings. Endit