The New Zealand Defence Force is considering staying in Fiji for longer to help the country in the aftermath of Cyclone Winston, Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully says.
The New Zealand Defence Force delivers essential aid supplies to Nasau in Koro, a cyclone-ravaged island about 106 km north of Suva. Photo: NZDF
Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee is in Fiji meeting with New Zealand military personnel.
The cyclone struck Fiji on 20 February, killing 44 people, wiping out villages, devastating thousands of homes and forcing 60,000 people to take shelter in evacuation centres.
New Zealand has sent hundreds of Defence Force staff to deliver tonnes of supplies and help rebuild communities.
Mr McCully said the military deployment in Fiji was the biggest New Zealand has seen outside of a conflict in a very long time.
The Defence Force has mainly been conducting relief operations in the Lau group.
"The Fijian government has explored with us staying a little after the 30-day original state of emergency arrangements and that's something we are looking at at the moment.
"To date we have committed about $5.2 million worth of funding but that's just been the relief stage and all the initial indications are we will be looking at doubling that amount during the recovery phase."
A bird's eye view of Lavena village Taveuni in Fiji after Cyclone Winston Photo: Alex Perrottet/RNZ
Fiji's government announced earlier this week that it had extended the state of natural disaster for another 30 days through until 19 April, to allow relief and rehabilitation work to continue where basic services and facilities remain limited.
The declaration applies only to the Red Zone - those areas severely affected by Tropical Cyclone Winston.
Rebuilding efforts are well under way in Fiji. Photo: RNZI / Alex Perrrottet
