The Prime Minister has announced New Zealand will give $10 million to Tonga to help with the rebuild after the country was struck by Cyclone Gita last month.

Jacinda Ardern is heading the annual Pacific Diplomatic Mission, and has visited Niue and Samoa already.

She told a group of Tongan school children it was a "pleasure" to deliver books to them".

"But we know you need more than books, you need your roofs to be fixed... so you can get back to learning."

Ms Ardern said over 50 per cent of schools in Tonga were damaged in the cyclone.

In a press release Ms Ardern said the package will, "Our package will support the Government of Tonga’s recovery planning and will focus on the restoration of the electricity network and helping children continue their schooling".</s>The Prime Minister has announced New Zealand will give $10 million to Tonga to help with the rebuild after the country was struck by Cyclone Gita last month.

Jacinda Ardern is heading the annual Pacific Diplomatic Mission, and has visited Niue and Samoa already.

She told a group of Tongan school children it was a "pleasure" to deliver books to them".

"But we know you need more than books, you need your roofs to be fixed... so you can get back to learning."

Ms Ardern said over 50 per cent of schools in Tonga were damaged in the cyclone.

In a press release Ms Ardern said the package will, "Our package will support the Government of Tonga’s recovery planning and will focus on the restoration of the electricity network and helping children continue their schooling".

"Cyclone Gita destroyed or partially damaged around 2000 homes in Tonga. Many communities are still without power and schools are without essential materials. It is a huge burden on so many families in Tonga and we are helping them recover."</s>Diplomat Tiffany Babington will become New Zealand's new High Commissioner to Tonga, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters announced today.

A leaning palm tree with rope swing at Pangaimotu island near Tongatapu island in Tonga.

The announcement comes as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern leads a Pacific Mission which heads to Tonga this afternoon.

Mr Peters says New Zealand has a strong relationship with Tonga, based on a population of more than 60,000 Tongans resident in New Zealand, development cooperation and our shared interest in regional issues.

"Cooperation between our countries has been clearly demonstrated in recent days with our support to the Tongan Government following Tropical Cyclone Gita," he said.

Ms Babington will lead the delivery of New Zealand’s Official Development Assistance programme in Tonga, helping to oversee $66 million of investment over three years focused on energy, policing, justice and education, Mr Peters said.

Ms Babington has previously been posted to Vanuatu and Italy, and worked on global development, Pacific regional, Niue and Tokelau issues.</s>Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced the New Zealand government will fund another $3 million to assist Samoa's recovery from Cyclone Gita.

The funds are in addition to money and resource support the government has already contributed to the recovery from Cyclone Gita, including $750,000 given to non-governmental organisations to deliver relief to Tonga and another $1.5 million split between Tonga and Samoa.

The cyclone's impact was the topic of discussion during Ardern's meeting with the prime minister of Samoa, Tuila'epa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi. today.

Ardern says the cyclone brought flooding to low-lying and coastal areas of both Samoa's main islands, causing damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure.

The funding will support the recovery and building of more resilient infrastructure.

"There is much work to do to recover from this and build resilience to these storms so the people of Samoa can ready themselves for these events as much as possible in the future," she says.

"The impact of Cyclone Gita has been felt across the region, including in New Zealand, and the government is committed to helping communities at home and in the Pacific recover as quickly as possible.”

The Prime Minister is currently in Samoa leading the week-long 2018 Pacific Mission.

She will travel to Niue tomorrow, followed by Tonga and the Cook Islands.</s>New Zealand's diplomatic mission across the Pacific has arrived in Tonga, ready to take in the havoc wreaked by Cyclone Gita.

1 NEWS Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver, who is travelling with the group, returned to the village of Patangata, which she visited shortly after Cyclone Gita hit Tonga.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and a delegation of politicians, charity representatives and Pacific community leaders has touched down in Nuku'alofa, ahead of a day packed with diplomatic talks and visits to storm-hit areas.

Tonga was the worst struck as tropical Cyclone Gita tore through the Pacific in February, leaving as much as 80 per cent of the kingdom's homes without electricity, flattening its parliament building and damaging 40 per cent of houses in the capital.

"There will be other themes on the agenda, but when you're surrounded by that level of devastation - and I've seen aerial footage of it - it will no doubt be a huge focus," Ms Ardern told reporters ahead of her arrival.

New Zealand has already committed more than $2 million in relief aid for the Pacific after Gita and, earlier in the week, Mr Ardern announced an additional $3m for nearby Samoa's recovery.

This year's annual Pacific Mission comes as the government tries to "reset" New Zealand's strategy towards its neighbours amid anxiety over growing interest in the region from countries with deeper pockets.

During the first days of the annual Pacific mission this week, Ms Ardern has announced boosts in development funding for Niue and Samoa.</s>Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern this morning visited Faso Government Primary school, which was hit hard by Cyclone Gita.

As a result of the cyclone, classes have been taking place under tents, and will for the next two weeks.

Health Services and UNICEF are also assisting the school and families in Tonga.

Despite the effects of the cyclone, the children remain in high spirits.

Te Kāea political reporter Talisa Kupenga is there and will have more tonight.</s>The PM and the Pacific Mission delegation received a rousing welcome as the arrived in the Cook Islands today.

Performers greeted the New Zealand representatives, with Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayford leading the procession.

Mr Gayford, at one stage, was pulled up by a performer for a short dance.

The delegation have already visited Samoa, Niue and Tonga, promising millions to help with development and in some places the rebuild after Cyclone Gita.

Today Foreign Affairs Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters announced changes to the New Zealand superannuation scheme for residents of Cooks Islands, Niue and Tokelau.

"Under the current system people must have lived in New Zealand for five years after turning 50 in order to be eligible for New Zealand Super. We will now allow residency in Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau after the age of 50 to count towards the eligibility requirements," he said.

"This will mean that people who are eligible for New Zealand Super will be able to remain in these countries and contribute to the local economy without having to return to New Zealand just to qualify for their pension."</s>A Samoan woman who lost her home and a family member when Cyclone Evan slammed into Samoa in 2012, says she is "speechless" after receiving funding from aid partners to help her re-build.

Teresa Fa'avae, was speaking to 1 NEWS today as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, in Samoa, announced New Zealand would be giving nearly $10 million in aid to the Pacific island nation.

"Honestly I'm speechless, it's unexpected and I don't know what to say, but as for me it's my home," Ms Fa'avae said.

She's one of 290 families to receive a new home with the help of several aid partners.

At least $3 million of the allocated aid from the NZ Government will go towards helping Samoa recover from last month's Cyclone Gita and future proofing against more cyclones.

Ms Ardern will also be visiting Tonga, Niue and the Cook Islands this week.

Issues Ms Ardern will address on the trip will be climate change and globalisation, she told media last week.</s>NZ donates additional $3m for cyclone recovery and $6.5 m to the private sector

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Arden and Samoa’s Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi talk to the media following the bilateral talks in Apia today.

APIA, SAMOA – MONDAY 05 MARCH 2018: New Zealand is making an additional contribution of $3m dollars as upfront funding to the Samoan government for identified cyclone recovery needs.

This was announced by Prime Minister Jacinda Arden in Apia today following formal bilateral talks with Samoa’s Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.

Arden referred to what she has been told of the devastation by Cyclone Gita last month that included unprecedented land slips in a scale not seen before, and the funds are to help Samoa’s recovery and building resilience as well.

The Prime Minister also discussed funding for the Private Sector development of $6.5 million dollars saying the investment has been hugely successful and really making a contribution to increasing Samoa’s GDP. The funds target funding support for women and young people small business projects through the Ministry of Commerce and the Development Bank.

She noted the success of some of the private sector’s investments hence the additional support set aside for small business development.

She said both New Zealand and Samoa can help develop opportunities and support business projects for young people domestically, given that half of the population in Samoa are defined as young.

As part of her one day program in Samoa, she inspected some of the Small Business Enterprise (SBEC) events at the Taumeasina Hideaway where small business were showcased.

“We are working closely with your Ministry of Commerce and Development Bank to try and enhance this existing co-operation,” said Prime Minister Adern.

She is starting her annual Pacific tour in Samoa in what has been promoted as “Pacific Reset” setting out a new strategy that flags a stronger New Zealand Pacific aid policy as “it’s the Pacific where New Zealand mattered and could do the most,” according to Foreign Affairs Minister, Winston Peters.

After Samoa, Ardens delegation will visit Tonga, Niue and the Cook Islands.</s>The cyclone-battered Pacific could be hit by another cyclone later this week, but at this stage it looks set to stay well north of New Zealand.

The Fiji Meteorological Service says the potential for a tropical disturbance to develop into a tropical cyclone on Thursday is high.

The system, now detected between Vanuatu and Fiji, is expected to continue to lie in that area on Thursday when Fiji's Tropical Cyclone Centre says there's high potential for it to develop into a cyclone.

There's moderate potential for it to develop into a cyclone tomorrow and Wednesday.

MetService in New Zealand says the most likely track will bring the tropical disturbance close to southern Vanuatu on Wednesday, before it starts moving away to the southeast.

But MetService stresses there is still considerable uncertainty with the exact track and evolution of the system.

There's a small chance it may move west across Vanuatu into the Coral Sea instead, but this is the least likely situation, the forecaster says.

MetService Communications Meteorologist Lisa Murray told 1 NEWS this afternoon that at the moment there's a very low risk the system will move over New Zealand.

"If it did come close it's not a Cyclone Fehi or a Cyclone Gita." she said.

It might bring a bit of rain to Gisborne and might bring some sea swells, but may not affect New Zealand at all, Ms Murray said.

Tropical Cyclone Gita last month hit Tonga the hardest, causing devastation and two deaths, and also battered Samoa and other Pacific nations before its tail end affected central New Zealand and the West Coast, causing flooding and slips.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces that New Zealand will give NZ$10 million to Tonga to help with rebuilding after the country was struck by Cyclone Gita in February.