TC Yasa relief container bound for Vanua Levu

Bula Sia

Tropical Cyclone Yasa made landfall in Fiji on Thursday 17 December, causing significant damage across Vanua Levu and other parts of Fiji. At least 850,000 men, women and children live in the path of Cyclone Yasa, a Category 5 cyclone with winds gusting up to 350km/h and waves of up to 12m.

We are looking for assistance from the NZ Fijian Community as well as the wider Pasifika and global kava community to help us fill a 20ft container to be distributed to those worst affected by the recent tropical cyclone to hit the North of Fiji. We will be on the ground mid-January and will visit the impacted areas ourselves to distribute directly to those in need and will be posting videos and stories along the way so donors can see directly who they contributed to and how it helped them.

We are looking for the following:

1. Secondhand building tools, flashlights, small generators and old chainsaws

2. Tarpaulins, tents, chilly bins, bbq's/camping cooking stoves, pots & pans, cutlery, small portable solar units and bedding (sheets, pillows and blankets etc)

3. Building supplies (boxes of nails, coil strapping and plumbing / electrical items)

4. Medical Supplies (first aid kits)

5. Non-perishable items

The container is located in Lyall Bay, outside the Crossfit FRF Gym (60/66 Kingsford Smith Street, Rongotai).

In addition, the main source of income for those worst impacted by the TC Yasa is kava farming which takes years to grow, currently these farmers are salvaging what they can from their farms to sell at a fraction of the price in a flooded market. We aim not only to provide the above-mentioned items to those in need but provide an additional source of income allowing these farmers to receive 100% of the profits selling direct to donors/supporters of this initiative. Anyone wanting to buy kava direct from farmers with plantations impacted by the cyclone can donate $100 + fees, with $50 contribution towards the project and $50 going directly to the farmer which equates to roughly FJ$70 of which would have been the price they may have got per kilo of kava mixed and sold in the markets prior to the cyclone. Kava will be vacuumed packed in 1kg bags with the name of farmer and location. We will cover the costs of shipping within New Zealand.

We would like to thank in advance the support from the Wellington Fijian Community (Vit Weligitoni Community Association - VWCA and NZ Viti Council), Inasi Kava Club, Pasifika Kava Forum and Crossfit FRF Gym Lyall Bay as well as friends and family.