Garrett David: Motions — Pacific Islands—Tsunami 
Garrett David: Motions — Pacific Islands—Tsunami 
[Volume:658;Page:6909] 
DAVID GARRETT (ACT) 
: 
 I rise on behalf of the ACT Party to express our utmost sympathy for the victims of this tragic event affecting our Pacific brothers and sisters. It goes without saying that our hearts go out to all of those who have been affected in whichever country. Much of the world’s attention and certainly ours is quite rightly centred on Samoa and for good reason: Samoa bore the brunt of the damage inflicted by the tsunami both in terms of lives lost and in devastation. But Tonga has also been affected. It is the second human tragedy to befall the kingdom in the last 3 months following the loss of the  
Princess Ashika 
 in which 74 people died their bodies never to be recovered. The loss in Samoa and American Samoa is awful but let us not forget that the loss in Tonga is no less great for the families of the victims. 
The event is a reminder of how all our Pacific neighbours and ourselves are vulnerable to these events. Had this tsunami occurred 500 kilometres to the east it would have devastated Fiji in very similar ways to what occurred in Samoa. Had it been 500 kilometres to the south the Tongan main island of Tongatapu where I lived for a number of years would have been entirely obliterated as it is a low atoll. 
The latest reports suggest that the death toll across the region will be higher than the 190 currently recorded in the media. This will come as no surprise to those of us who are familiar with the Pacific. Some of the areas hit are incredibly remote. Niuatoputapu together with Nuiafo‘ou the northern extremity of the Tongan islands are 500 kilometres from mainland Tonga and are in fact closer to Samoa than Tonga. Scattered reports from there suggest that over 60 percent of the buildings in Niuatoputapu were destroyed by a 6-metre wall of water—utter devastation. It is an island the size of or a little larger than Rangitoto and is home to 1400 people 10 of whom were taken. There was massive damage to an already limited infrastructure. People there have lived at one with the sea for generations and they will not soon forget this tragedy. Any rumbling of the earth will cause the locals to flee to higher ground where it exists to seek refuge in the case of another disaster. 
Yet by contrast the response by Kiwis was typically cynical and some would say foolish. New Zealanders flocked in their droves to the beaches. Many took an hour off work even here in Parliament to wander down to Oriental Bay. Parents took their children. One can only gape in wonder at what they were thinking and at the danger they were putting themselves and their loved ones in. New Zealanders need to wake up to the very real danger of tsunami in our part of the world. We are a coastal nation with most of our cities lying on the coast or near water. A similar event off the coast of this country would flatten many towns and cities wreaking utter havoc. I would like to pay tribute to a young girl who I believe is from the Wellington area who had made a study of the phenomenon of tsunamis. She realised very quickly what was happening in Samoa and was able to warn people saving who knows how many lives. 
Although we mourn the loss of our cousins and friends in Samoa and Tonga let us not forget that one day we may find ourselves in a similar situation to theirs. Let us learn from this tragedy while we help our neighbours to rebuild. To our friends in Samoa and Tonga ofa atu alofa tele atu.