Four shipping containers packed with donated goods will head to cyclone-hit Fiji after a massive response to a Wellington lawyer’s relief appeal.
Kamil Lakshman, who moved to New Zealand from Fiji in 1983, had initially hoped to fill a single shipping container but was amazed at the public’s overwhelming response.
“It was the media coverage that seemed to have tapped into a pulse about how people felt about Fiji and the devastation from the cyclone. “Three bulging-full containers were sent by rail on Tuesday to Tauranga, where they would get loaded on a ship heading to Fiji on March 12.
Relief appeal a huge success
Lakshman said she was very grateful that so many organisations and people from all walks of life answered her call to help Fiji.
The fourth container would be filled during the week with educational goods bound for devastated schools, including school desks, as well as large medical supplies, such as hospital beds. It would depart New Zealand on March 25.
It was Laksham’s third humanitarian appeal for her former homeland. Her first was in 2009, when floods hit Fiji. She linked up with the Ramakrishna Mission, a non-government organisation in Fiji, which distributed the donated goods on arrival.
In 2012, she organised a second container of donated goods after another flood caused widespread damage.
More Information about the cyclone that prompted the relief appeal
Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston was the strongest tropical cyclone ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere. It struck Fiji on February 20, 2016, as a Category 5 storm with winds of 280 km/h (170 mph). Consequently, the cyclone devastated communities, killed 44 people and directly affected 350,000 residents—nearly 40% of Fiji’s population.
Moreover, Winston destroyed or damaged 40,000 homes, leaving tens of thousands without shelter. Many communities became isolated as communication lines were severed. In response, Fiji’s government declared a state of emergency for 60 days to manage the crisis. As a result, the cyclone caused an estimated FJ$2.98 billion (US$1.4 billion) in damage, making it the most expensive in Fiji’s history.
Soon after, relief efforts began with teams from Australia, New Zealand, and international organisations providing critical assistance. For instance, they delivered millions of dollars in aid, food, and essential supplies. Additionally, these groups worked alongside local authorities to rebuild homes and restore vital services. Ultimately, Cyclone Winston revealed Fiji’s vulnerability to extreme weather and underscored the importance of disaster readiness throughout the Pacific.