Dunedin aid for islands

The Dunedin community is pulling together to organise a fundraising concert, donations, and delivery of relief supplies as the outpouring of grief over the Pacific tsunami tragedy continues.

A community fundraising concert was scheduled for 7pm next Tuesday in the Town Hall, Dunedin City Council community adviser Michael Laufiso said last night.

The concert would include performances from acapella group Sunny Side Up, the St Kilda Brass Band, and Mayor Peter Chin.

Mr Laufiso said more performers were being organised.

Entry would be by donation.

"We're trying to get as many people there as possible."

Organisers would work with the Samoan and Tongan communities, with their focus giving the wider community a chance to support them.

The money raised would go to a fund being set up by the Dunedin Council of Social Services (DCOS) specifically for Dunedin people to donate to victims of the tsunami.

Mainfreight International Dunedin branch manager Aaron Bond emailed the Otago Daily Times yesterday after reading a story about a group of Samoan students who had collected a roomful of clothes for their home country but had no way of sending them.

"Our Mainfreight International team is preparing a container to be loaded and sent to Samoa.

"We can arrange for collection of the goods and delivery in this container to Samoa - naturally, free of charge."

The organiser of the group, Matalena Fa'aesea, was ecstatic.

"I can't wait to tell the girls the good news.

"Some of us have not eaten today - we have been so busy.

"The donations have been flooding in."

Mr Laufiso said negotiations were under way with Port Otago and members of the Pacific island community in Dunedin, to organise another shipping container with goods from Dunedin businesses.

He had also received a call from Volunteering Otago, which had been given about 100 toys for Samoa.

Other offers ranged from toothbrushes to toys, books and clothing.

Donations to the DCOS fund, the Dunedin Community Pacific Tsunami Response Fund, could be made at the Westpac Moray Pl branch, account number: 030905053831500.