What a great posting from Winnie. I am so glad she agreed to go with me to Samoa. She was not only a wonderful travelling companion, but her understanding of the appropriate cultural approach and her Samoan language skills meant we could engage with those affected by this terrible natural disaster in the most sensitive ways. I see the usual suspects in the media have been making snide comments about Winnie and me going immediately to Samoa on the day the tsunami happened. I can only endorse Winnie’s words that every single person we met, Samoan or Kiwi, seemed genuinely delighted we came.

My own links with the Samoan community run deep. I was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Te Atatu in 1993. Almost 17% of the Te Atatu population are Pasifika. During my time as the local MP I have attended countless Pacific community events, and I have shared in church services at the local Pacific churches. After last year’s election my partner and I took Helen Clark and her husband to Samoa for a short break. We stayed at the Sinalei Resort, which is owned by Winnie’s cousins. One of the saddest parts of the visit was attending the funeral for Sinalei owner Tui Annandale. Tui and her husband Joe looked after Helen and I so kindly when we were feeling a bit down over the election result.

Last Wednesday morning I had only just heard about the earthquake and tsunami that had hit Samoa when Winnie called me. Winnie’s offices were being flooded with calls from concerned New Zealand Pacific Islanders who were having real difficulties getting information about their families and loved ones. The phone lines were already very patchy to Samoa. Also, as I made enquiries through my international affairs networks it became quite clear that New Zealand officials didn’t know much more. There was one flight available, Winnie had decided she had to travel to Samoa, she asked me to accompany her, and we both literally rushed to the airport.

One of the things I wanted to do when we arrived in Apia was to visit all of the injured Kiwis in Moto’otua Hospital in Apia. We did that. We took no journalists with us because we just wanted to offer comfort to the victims. Meeting and sitting with the couple from Nelson who had lost their 2 year old was very emotional and hard. People seemed appreciative that we went.

We met many Samoans who had lost loved ones, their homes, all their possessions. It was so tragic.

We also met many holidaying Kiwis who had lost everything – their clothes, money, passports, and who were feeling dazed, exhausted and unsure of how to survive before they were able to head home to New Zealand. Many were camped out at the New Zealand High Commissioner’s residence.

I met a Kiwi teacher from South Auckland, Malcolm Lawrence, a tsunami victim, wandering in the street in Apia with literally nothing except his togs. Malcolm had lost everything including his clothes. He had no credit cards, ID or even cash for food. I gave him my spare clothes and $100 to survive till he was able to get on a flight home. At the High Commission I gave money to another victim, Wendy, from Matamata, who was in a similar situation. Thank goodness they were alive!

It was clear to us that Winnie as Labour’s spokesperson for Pacific Island Affairs, and me as our Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, needed to be there, on the ground, supporting the victims and listening to their plight.

It was important that people felt the humanity and support during a very traumatic time.

It was important for Samoans and holidaying Kiwis to know that the Labour Party cared about the disaster and was quick off the mark to demonstrate its concern.

It is an important role of the Opposition in a Parliamentary democracy to challenge, push and where appropriate support the actions of the government of the day. It is a legitimate role for Opposition MPs to provide a different voice and often alternatives to government policy or action, whether it be in domestic affairs such as Education, Health, Housing or Welfare, or dealing with issues concerning Employers, Workers, Unions, in International Relations/Foreign Affairs, and even in disaster relief.

That’s our job!

It was immediately obvious to us that what Samoa urgently needed was doctors, nurses, immediate food, fresh water supplies and medical equipment.

One thing Winnie and I did discover was that what people in the affected areas really need from now on, is practical household goods, things like sheets, towels, mats, pots, utensils and clothes. With Foreign Aid Samoa will rebuild damaged infrastructure.

Please be generous in donating items for families affected by the tsunami, and please be generous in making donations of money to the disaster relief fund. There are several appeals happening right now. You can donate through the Red Cross, Oxfam, or you can visit ANZ or Westpac bank branches. Many local Pacific churches are also running appeals.

We will send our views to Labour Leader Phil Goff and to Prime Minister John Key, and we will do our best, along with the Labour caucus, to make sure the New Zealand government provides longer term support beyond the immediate relief, for the Samoan victims of the disaster to rebuild their communities and lives.

The challenge for you, is what can you do to help our families and friends in Samoa. Give generously.