ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
Senior citizens have joined businesses and individuals to chip in to help Fijians devastated by the severe flooding following Cyclone Josie earlier this month.
Five people were killed, and significant damage to homes and farms was reported, dealing a blow to western Fiji’s agriculture sector. Businesses in Ba and Nadi also suffered massive losses due to the flooding.
Fiji’s Honorary Consul in Auckland Harish Lodhia said the support from New Zealanders was overwhelming.
The group had hoped to send two full containers of clothing, home essentials and non-perishable foods, but actually collected relief materials to fill four containers, he said.
Auckland supermarkets had sent in pallets full of tinned food, tea, coffee, plastic tubs, buckets and other home essentials while people chipped in with bed linen, towels, new and pre-loved clothing besides non-perishable food items.
Goods were received from Hamilton and further afield from Palmerston North and New Plymouth, Mr Lodhia said. Temples, churches and mosques and even senior citizens’ groups helped in many ways, he added.
The initiative called ‘Friends Reaching Out’ is Mr Lodhia’s brainchild and he acknowledges the contribution and help from his fellow businessman and friend Jagdish Punja.
Two charitable organisations in Fiji that are well-recognised by the Fijian Government have been tasked with distributing the items in the affected areas of the western region, Mr Punja said.
The Sri Sathya Sai Sansthan will distribute in the town of Ba and the surrounding villages while the Ramakrishna Mission will work with the distribution in and around Nadi.
The first two of the 20-foot containers had already left Auckland on Thursday, April 26, and the other two will leave next week. Mr Lodhia acknowledged the role of Neptune Shipping that provided the containers and sponsored the shipping costs.
He has appealed for more volunteers to come forth as relief material continues to pour in. The organisers have requested donors to pack their materials in cartons instead of plastic bags and rubbish bags.
“A very big thank you to all who have so generously come forward to help people in Fiji who have been so badly affected,” Consul Lodhia said.
Senior citizens have joined businesses and individuals to chip in to help Fijians devastated by the severe flooding following Cyclone Josie earlier this month.
Five people were killed, and significant damage to homes and farms was reported, dealing a blow to western Fiji’s agriculture sector....
Senior citizens have joined businesses and individuals to chip in to help Fijians devastated by the severe flooding following Cyclone Josie earlier this month.
Five people were killed, and significant damage to homes and farms was reported, dealing a blow to western Fiji’s agriculture sector. Businesses in Ba and Nadi also suffered massive losses due to the flooding.
Fiji’s Honorary Consul in Auckland Harish Lodhia said the support from New Zealanders was overwhelming.
The group had hoped to send two full containers of clothing, home essentials and non-perishable foods, but actually collected relief materials to fill four containers, he said.
Auckland supermarkets had sent in pallets full of tinned food, tea, coffee, plastic tubs, buckets and other home essentials while people chipped in with bed linen, towels, new and pre-loved clothing besides non-perishable food items.
Goods were received from Hamilton and further afield from Palmerston North and New Plymouth, Mr Lodhia said. Temples, churches and mosques and even senior citizens’ groups helped in many ways, he added.
The initiative called ‘Friends Reaching Out’ is Mr Lodhia’s brainchild and he acknowledges the contribution and help from his fellow businessman and friend Jagdish Punja.
Two charitable organisations in Fiji that are well-recognised by the Fijian Government have been tasked with distributing the items in the affected areas of the western region, Mr Punja said.
The Sri Sathya Sai Sansthan will distribute in the town of Ba and the surrounding villages while the Ramakrishna Mission will work with the distribution in and around Nadi.
The first two of the 20-foot containers had already left Auckland on Thursday, April 26, and the other two will leave next week. Mr Lodhia acknowledged the role of Neptune Shipping that provided the containers and sponsored the shipping costs.
He has appealed for more volunteers to come forth as relief material continues to pour in. The organisers have requested donors to pack their materials in cartons instead of plastic bags and rubbish bags.
“A very big thank you to all who have so generously come forward to help people in Fiji who have been so badly affected,” Consul Lodhia said.
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