Services offered by freight shipping company, Matson South Pacific, has been applauded by the Auckland Fijian community for providing shipping assistance to aid Tropical Cyclone Winston victims.

Fijians in Auckland from all walks of life contributed non-perishable food and other much needed items for the victims of TC Winston.

Matson South Pacific gave six 20ft containers free of charge via Auckland to Fiji and 50 per cent discount for any containers after that.

They also gave three 20ft containers to the Tongan community in Auckland led by Jenny Salesa.

According to Auckland Mayors Funds committee chairman, John Kotoisuva, nine 20ft containers were filled in two weeks in two locations in Auckland and donations were still flowing in.

“I have asked shipping companies doing business in Fiji and the Pacific for support and only Matson Shipping stood up to be counted and supported Fiji and Tonga,” Mr Kotoisuva said.

Mr Kotoisuva said the business sector had also contributed.

He added that Air New Zealand is in discussion with the Filimone Waqabaca, Fiji High Commission to New Zealand for school furniture that could furnish three or four school.

Mr Kotoisuva, who connected the Fiji High Commissioner to Air New Zealand, said that he is now organising shipping containers through Matson South Pacific shipping to get some 800 desks and other furniture to Fiji for the effected schools.

“I want thank Michael Jones and my ex-Marist school mate Gerry Elborune for Matson Shipping’s huge support during this time of great need,” Mr Kotoisuva added.

ABOUT THE MAYOR’S FUND

The Fiji Community in Auckland was mobilised and supported by the Auckland Mayors Funds for natural disaster in the Pacific.

The Mayor’s fund was set up by the current Mayor Len Brown to support the Pacific community in Auckland of the effected country in the Pacific by natural disaster.

John Kotoisuva has chaired this committee since it started some three years ago and they have responded to natural disasters in Tonga, Tuvalu and now Fiji.