Tongan Prime Minister Feleti Sevele has launched an appeal fund to raise money for the earthquake-affected people of Canterbury
The Prime Minister's spokesperson, Lopeti Senituli, says there are more than a thousand Tongans living in the Canterbury region and Dr Sevele wants to extend moral support to New Zealand.
Mr Senituli says the money will be handed over to the Canterbury Earthquake Appeal Commission in the first week of October.
He says reconstruction from the tsunami that struck Tonga following an 8.0 earthquake last September is taking final shape thanks to the New Zealand Government.