An MP for the cyclone-hit island of Aitutaki in the Cook Islands says he's disappointed at the speed of the response to the disaster which caused damage to about 90 percent of homes.
New Zealand is sending an Airforce Hercules to the Cook Islands this afternoon with relief supplies and defence force personnel to help with the recovery from the cyclone which hit last Thursday New Zealand time.
The plane will arrive in Rarotonga tonight and will transport supplies from the Cook Islands and New Zealand governments, and the Red Cross to Aitutaki tomorrow.
MP Teina Bishop says most locals are busy cleaning up their own homes and are unable to help with the general clean up.
He says he had hoped electricians and builders would have arrived sooner to help.
"Because we fear that if we don't get the economy up and running then people will migrate, and this is the point I want to make that the New Zealand government has to come and give us a hand now otherwise there will be a flood of Aitutakians moving to New Zealand to live on the dole."
Teina Bishop says tarpaulins only arrived yesterday to cover up homes which have lost their rooves.
He says the Red Cross, disaster management officials and electricity workers are present but things are not happening as speedily as they should be.
