Rotary sends emergency response kits to Aitutaki

Rotary New Zealand’s world community services has donated 50 emergency response kits worth $30,000 towards the Aitutaki cyclone relief efforts.

Rarotonga Rotary club president Mike Pynenburg says the 22 kilogramme kits contain a multitude of useful items. These include kitchen and household items, blankets, two sets of clothing for a whole family, tools (shovel, hammer, machete, roofing nails, fishing lines), toiletries and medical supplies.

“They are what people really affected most need. Red Cross were delighted with the kits and their contents,” says Pynenburg.

They arrived in Rarotonga on Thursday after the club air-freighted the lot up after missing the chance to put them on the Hercules last weekend. Air New Zealand has provided a concession on the freight.

Pynenburg says they worked with Emergency Cook Islands, Red Cross and NZAID to get the kits here – these agencies will distribute them to families in need. Today they are expected to be loaded on to the Southern Phoenix due to sail to Aitutaki tomorrow.

The Rotary clubs of Auckland had been willing to send 100 of the kits to Rarotonga but since the weekend decided to send 50 of them to Tonga towards its recovery from cyclone Rene.