Songs and prayers for bus crash victims

6:31 am today
Share this

Share on Twitter
Share on Facebook
Share via email
Share on Google Plus
Share on Reddit
Share on Linked In


Jav Porn


Hundreds of members of the Tongan community filled an Auckland church with song and prayer last night to remember the two people who died in a bus crash near Gisborne on Christmas Eve.


The church was packed with family, friends and members of the wider Tongan community. Photo: RNZ / Sarah Robson

Fifty-three people were on the bus when it plunged down a steep bank killing Sione Taumololo, 11, and Talita Fifita, 33.

The pair were part of a group of school students and band members who were in New Zealand on a four-week fundraising tour.
Jav School Girl

Family, friends and members of the wider Tongan community were among those who were at the memorial service at the Tongan Methodist Church in Grey Lynn.

Many of those who were on the bus when it crashed were also there, and a number of them had visible injuries.

Some of them wore black armbands, and members of the school's choir and brass band performed.


Photo: RNZ / Sarah Robson

The bodies of Sione and Ms Fifita lay in caskets draped in white cloth and adorned with flowers in front of the church altar.

The president of the Methodist Church of New Zealand, Reverend Prince Devanandan, was among the church leaders who paid tribute to them.

"They came joyfully to this land to celebrate, to do their part for the school they were serving, but they are going back in this unfortunate way from us," he said.
javfinder
The Princess Royal of Tonga, Salote Pilolevu Mafile'o Tuita, was also at the service.

The bodies will be returned to Tonga on Saturday while the remaining band members will continue their fundraising tour through to 10 January.

Warning around Tonga landfill remains

7:18 am today
Share this

Share on Twitter
Share on Facebook
Share via email
Share on Google Plus
Share on Reddit
Share on Linked In


Jav HD

Warnings for the public to stay clear of smoke and toxic fumes around a landfill in Tonga are still in place.


Fire at Tapuhia landfill in Tonga Photo: Matangi Tonga

The warnings were issued by the Government on Tuesday after firefighters had been battling a massive blaze at the Tapuhia Landfill which started on Christmas Day.
Jav Teen

About 20 firefighters were sent to Tapuhia on Christmas Day, assisted by an emergency team of 50 members from the defence services, police, and the National Emergency Management Office.

Local firefighter Semisi Otulau says firefighters are still working to ensure the fire is completely extinguished.

He says there are still toxic fumes being emitted from hot spots that remain.

"It is our biggest fire because some of the rubbish and you know many chemicals there. Like vehicles and broken things you know. It's hard to breathe," he said.

In a statement the government said the likely impact to the environment and human health through the emission of toxic fumes has also been reduced greatly, however, nearby communities are hereby advised to proceed with caution while outdoors until the fumes are no longer visible.
Jav HEYZO
The landfill was part of a $US1.21 million ($2.7 million pa'anga) project, funded by the Australian Government, the Tongan Government and the Asian Development Bank and was handed over nearly two years ago on 13 January 2015.