#TAGTONGA

Affirming Works (AW) in NZ are devastated by a recent cyclone that dramatically hit the home of the Burling and Paea Family on the western side of Tonga otherwise known too many as the Ha’atafu Beach Resort.

Ha'atafu Beach Resort now without guests has been terribly damaged and it's owners are trying to rebuild itself in the hope that it will be able to open doors again soon. Ha’atafu Beach Resort in Hihifo (Westside) of Tongatapu celebrated 40 years of business in Tonga in 2019. It is a small family-owned business who has served the nation in providing employment and promoting sustainability through it's platform tourism in Tonga.

Just like many other nations, the Kingdom of Tonga has been in lockdown to initially prepare for the initial concerns that the COVID-19 virus may have on the island. Despite the island of Tonga being COVID-19 free, the consequences on the economy with the world borders being closed and recently the effects of cyclone Harold has caused our people residing in the islands to become more vulnerable.

TAGTONGA was set up in 2018 as a way of our own diaspora of Pacific people and friends giving directly to their family and friends in our island nations, recently with the measles epidemic, we allowed for New Zealanders to TAGSAMOA. This time Affirming Works (AW)have decided to reactivate their TAGTONGA service to allow friends and family to give to loved ones in the Kingdom of Tonga.

More about us

AW is an innovative Pacific ‘not-for-profit’ company with a team of intergenerational, vibrant professionals who offer a range of mentoring & educational services to communities in NZ. AW has been providing mentoring services to Pacific communities in New Zealand for over 19 years is leading the charge to unite, collaborate and provide the pacific diaspora to rebuild our island nations through #TAGTONGA.

#TAGTONGA provides a direct donor option for those in New Zealand and abroad wanting to make a monetary donation to cyclone-affected family and friends in Tonga. In times of crises, we as Pacific communities rally together hence the organic community response to the crisis through the new aid initiative.

#TAGTONGA enables people to determine the destination of their donation. Donors can TAG a village, family and/or the purpose of their donation through a specific cause or project. AW will provide evidence of direct spending and reporting to our aid partners to enable good accountability of donations made.

At present Give A Little does not provide a TAG function. Should you wish to 'tag a destination, family, purpose' please email our TAGTONGA team at #a-w@affirming.org.nz and they will provide you with a form to fill out the necessary details.