Two shipments of aid donated by New Zealanders have arrived in Tonga but there aren't enough forklifts to help unload the 51 containers quickly.
The Aotearoa Tonga Relief Committee says the containers carry more than 1000 tonnes of supplies - about 5000 drums and boxes some weighing up to 200-kilogrammes each.
The shipments are being being quarantined for 72 hours and are now being unloaded manually which is taking a day to unloaded two containers.
Committee secretary Pakilau Manase Lua is calling on New Zealand businesses to donate forklifts to help speed up the unloading process.
Nevertheless, he told reporter Lydia Lewis on Tuesday it is great news that some of the aid is finally being delivered.
The first shipment of aid sent to Tonga by New Zealand community members and businesses is finally being unpacked after completing mandatory quarantine on Tongatapu. Photo: Aotearoa Tonga Relief Committee
