Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:00a.m.
While about $NZ800,000 has flowed into a Government-initiated trust fund for victims of Tonga's ferry disaster, bereaved families have so far seen little of the cash.
The Princess Ashika capsized and sank on August 5, 90km north Nuku'alofa, with the loss of 73 lives, most of them Tongan.
The Tongan government kick-started the Ashika Relief Fund with 500,000 Tongan pa'anga ($NZ400,000).
Donations had poured in from locals and overseas governments and the fund now stood at more than $NZ800,000, said Paula Ma'u, deputy secretary at the Prime Minister's office.
Tongan company Melie Mei Langi Money Transfer had raised money in a separate initiative, and the Tongan Government had released some money from its $15 million National Emergency Fund established following the Nuku'alofa pro-democracy riots in 2006, local newspaper Matangi Tonga reported.
Both the Tongan Government and Melie Mei Langi used the same formula to distribute its assistance.
Ms Ma'u said that the government allocation was $NZ1600 per head, for the families of those lost at sea.
Financial assistance for families of foreigners who died would come from the Ashika Relief Fund, she said.
By the end of last week, the Government had paid out a total of 134,000 pa'anga. ($NZ107,000)
Melie Mei Langi would give out $NZ2000 for each victim, with the final distribution happening on Ha'apai and Vava'u this weekend.
Company spokesman Samiuela Fangaloka said it was hoped a second round of payments could be made, as donations were still coming in.
Meanwhile, the Tonga Red Cross said it had received $100,000 from the Australian government to assist with counselling for families of ferry victims.
Reverend Dr 'Ahio, president of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga and chairman of the Ashika Relief Fund, confirmed to the newspaper that the trustees had not met since their appointment.
NZPA