The Tonga community in New Zealand is voicing its anger at the lack of progress by the Tongan Government in rehousing the people of Niuatoputapu made homeless by the tsunami more than two months ago.
Nine people were killed in the Niuas and dozens made homeless and, while house building is well underway in the Samoas, many in the Niuas are still without temporary shelters, let alone permanent housing.
Wellington Catholic priest Father Mateo Kivalu, who grew up on Niuatoputapu and spent three weeks there last month, says the lack of action has the isolated Niua people confused.
He says they had been told the Government required them to move to higher ground, then later that they would have a choice about moving and again that only those that move would receive financial help.
"So the people were confused here. One said to move, one said they would be given a freedom of choice, and one said only those who were going to move would be given the opportunity. That is very sad and these people who have been in their homes for quite a while, the majority of them don't want to move."
