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Grieving members of the Taufua family in New Zealand are heading to Samoa today to help search for missing family members presumed dead.
A large group of relatives from Christchurch and Auckland prepared themselves for the worst last night, packing bags full of medicine, tarpaulins, torches, sheets, clothes and other supplies to help with the clean-up in Samoa.
Up to 28 members of the Taufua family - from the village of Lalomanu - are either dead or remain missing, presumed dead.
The bodies of Su'e Taufua, her teenage daughter Matala, and youngsters Uena, 3, and her 8-month-old baby sister E.J. have been recovered.
The patriarch of the family - 97-year-old Taufua Taufua - was yesterday found alongside the body of his great-grandson, 6-year-old Jesasa Taufua - brother of Uena and E.J.
Their mother Salamasina - married to Etimani Taufua - survived by holding onto a floating car door and is recovering in hospital.
Mr Taufua and Jesasa were yesterday buried as they were found - together - just hours after their bodies were recovered.
It was a decision the family says was best, given the harsh circumstances.
Christchurch resident Seulata Taufua said relatives from New Zealand were dealing with a great loss, but were stepping up to help not only their own family but also the many other families affected in Samoa.
"We are all going over to help. That is what must be done at times like this - be together."
Angela Gray said she was still in shock and did not believe that her grandfather, uncles, aunties, nephews and nieces were dead.
"Still shocking ... I can't believe they're gone."
The 24-year-old had been staying at her family's resort - Taufua Beach Fales - for the past three months and only just returned to New Zealand last Wednesday.
"I've just been looking at my photos and thinking, 'They're all dead."'
Pictures of her cousins, who survived the disaster, shown on the television news standing in the rubble holding up a 21st birthday key, were heartbreaking, she said.
"That got to me, I just started crying. All that we've lost, it's unbelievable."
Miss Gray said a Government plan to bury all the tsunami victims together was a nice gesture, but said the Taufua family planned to bury loved ones in a family plot.
"We're discussing plans now but yes, we're going to bury all of our family on the top of the mountain [in Lalomanu] outside our new house."
Several other members of the family killed in the tsunami were laid to rest last night, while the search for others continues.
MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR THE VICTIMS
Sunday October 4
* Malaeola Community Centre, 16 Waokauri Pl, Mangere, South Auckland, at 11am.
* Lotofalei'a Tongan Methodist Church, 34 Orly Ave, Mangere, South Auckland, at 7pm.
* Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa, 7 Lincoln Rd, Henderson, West Auckland, at 7pm.
* Samoan Community Incorporated Welfare Hall, 8 Giles St, Tokoroa, at 4pm.
Monday October 5
* University of Auckland Maclaurin Chapel, 18 Princes St, Auckland City, at 12.30pm.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Pacific Cooperation Foundation
Deposits can be made at at any Westpac branch. All the money raised will go to the Samoan Government
Red Cross
- Make a secure online donation at redcross.org.nz
- Send cheques to the Samoan Red Cross Fund, PO Box 12140, Thorndon, Wellington 6144
- Call 0900 31 100 to make an automatic $20 donation
- Make a donation at any NZ Red Cross office
ANZ bank
Make a donation at any ANZ bank branch, or donate directly to the ANZ appeal account: 01 1839 0143546 00
Oxfam
- Make a secure online donation at
Oxfam.org.nz
- Phone 0800 400 666 or make an automatic $20 donation by calling 0900 600 20
