The Wanganui District Council’s reconstruction team is to head off to the tsunami devastated village of Satitoa in Samoa, and the team’s co-leaders have been confirmed. They are Cr Danny Jonas (political) and Allan MacGibbon (project). Mr MacGibbon is the council’s economic development manager and has previous experience rebuilding disaster hit villages in the Solomon Islands.

The members of the Wanganui reconstruction team are – Danny Jonas, Allan MacGibbon, Tim Thorne, Blake Jones, Graham Hoskin, Alan Hoskin, Quentin McGregor, Bruce Baldwin, Keith Smith, ‘Wanganui Chronicle’ reporter Anne-Marie Emerson and Samoan translator Tumena Leafa.

Mr MacGibbon flew out to Apia, Samoa, on Monday to reconnoiter aspects of the project including overseeing the arrival of the container which includes the construction materials and tools that the team will use. He will also be making prior contact with village leaders, Samoan officials and the NZ High Commission in Apia.

The project team will leave for Samoa on December 5 and return on December 15.

The intention is that they construct an all-purpose communal building in Satitoa. As well, they will deliver books, sporting and other recreational equipment for the up to 100 children that live in the village.

The reconstruction team leaves with the united blessing and support of the local Samoan community.

“We have had some planning issues around this project but they are all sorted. In addition, our communication with the local Samoan community wasn’t as clear and consultative as it might have been. But the fact that we now have united support for this enterprise is noteworthy,” said Mayor Michael Laws today.

“The aim is to make a real and tangible difference in Samoa. And to create a longstanding relationship with these wonderful people.

“Certainly I will be championing a more formal communication here in Wanganui and promoting a Council-Pasifika working party that will give Pacific Island peoples, resident in Wanganui, a ready council reference.”

Mayor Laws said that the generosity of Wanganui in raising $40,000 towards the reconstruction project, and the leadership of Cr Ray Stevens in co-ordinating the fund raising effort, “are amongst my highlights of the political year”.

Source: wanganui.govt.nz

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