2 Mar 2005

New Zealand aid supplies for northern Cook Islands being readied in Rarotonga

11:22 am on 2 March 2005

A New Zealand Air Force Hercules on Rarotonga is currently being loaded with relief supplies for the cyclone battered northern Cook Islands and is expected to fly out this afternoon.

The Hercules arrived in Rarotonga earlier this week with equipment such as cherry pickers to aid the clean up from the three cyclones which hit the southern Cooks in February.

But, it has been pressed into service to get emergency supplies to Pukapuka and Nassau.

The New Zealand Aid Minister, Marion Hobbs, says while many houses have suffered extensive damage, the food and water shortage is more pressing.

"It is not so much that the houses have been damaged but that the contents of the houses have been taken out, so that the supplies going out on the Hercules are tinned food, coffee, biscuits,and fresh water, blankets, chainsaws, tarpaulins, clothes and medical supplies."

The plane has to land at Penryhn and an interisland ship will deliver the supplies to Pukapuka and Nassau - that will involve a two day voyage.

The New Zealand met service says Cyclone Percy is continuing to intensify as it moves towards Palmerston atoll

The cyclone, with winds of 195 kilometres an hour and gusts of 260 kilometres, should pass to the west of Palmerston late tonight as it continues on its southerly

Cyclone Percy is continuing to intensify as it moves towards Palmerston atoll

The cyclone, with winds of 195 kilometres an hour and gusts of 260 kilometres, should pass to the west of Palmerston late tonight as it continues on its southerly path.