Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown is supporting members of Ashburton’s Tongan community, sending goods to family and friends back home as the Pacific Island recovers from an undersea eruption and tsunami.

The local Tongan community is sending drums filled with non-perishable food, clothing, and other goods family-to-family, though members of the public can also help out.

The first container of drums will go this week but another is planned later in the year, and the Tongan community is hoping Ashburton people will support events to fundraise the $6500 needed to ship the second container from Ashburton to Tonga, via the port of Lyttleton.

Mayor Brown was visited by members of the newly-created Ashburton Pacific Island and Associates Trust last week and heard how families in Tonga were struggling in the aftermath of the eruption.

They needed clothing and bedding, amongst other things.

“It was good to hear how the local Tongan community is already helping on a personal family-to-family level, but people in Mid Canterbury can also donate goods or support one of their fundraisers.”

On Saturday 12 February the local Tongan community will be running a huge barbecue and bake sale at the Ashburton Farmers’ Market and they hope people will turn up in droves. Money raised will go towards paying the $6500 to send the second container.

Mayor Brown said Tongan people were an important part of the district’s workforce and their families back home had a long road ahead in recovery mode.

“Often people are too shy to ask for help but our district is a generous one and will do its best to support them.”