Tongan bus tragedy: Survivors to perform in Gisborne

Sione Taumalolo and Talita Moimoi , the two killed in the Christmas Eve bus crash between Wairoa and Gisborne. Photo / Facebook

Survivors of the deadly Christmas Eve bus crash in Gisborne will perform a tribute concert - the same day the bus was recovered from the scene.

Members of the Mailefihi Siu'ilikutapu College Brass Band will be playing at the House of Breakthrough Church tonight in memory of 11-year-old Sione Taumalolo and Talita Moimoi Fifita, 33, who died in the accident.

It is also hoped some funds may be raised at the concert, to help the families affected by the tragedy.

This morning the bus involved in the crash was recovered from the site on Wairoa Rd and the road was reopened.

The wreckage of the bus is removed from the scene. Photo / Gisborne Herald

The highway between Wairoa and Gisborne was closed from 6am today to allow the bus recovery operation. A heavy-lift crane from Tauranga was brought in to do the job.

Gisborne woman Kristina Williams, who set up a Givealittle page for the band, said tonight's performance would be very emotional for the group, who had been due to perform at a church service on Christmas Day.

"Tonight, they're performing at a local church to raise some more funds themselves.

"These are the actual victims who have crawled out of the bus,'' she said.

"It's just going to be so moving. They've got bandages, they're still wrapped up, and they're going to be up there performing for everyone.''

Their instruments had been left in the wreckage on Saturday evening.

However, the members were promising to put on a good show anyway.

"Today, the Police are trying to recover the bus and they're hoping they'll be able to get their instruments so they can play in the concert tonight,'' Williams said.

"But I've heard that they're just going to wing it if the instruments are damaged or they can't actually get them out of the bus yet.

"They're just going to do it Tongan style, island style."

Flowers placed at the scene of the fatal crash. Photo / Gisborne Herald

Fundraising efforts by the Gisborne and wider New Zealand Tongan communities have raised more than $33,000 on the dedicated Givealittle page as of this afternoon.

Police have been interviewing witnesses and the bus driver.

"The police serious crash unit is conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash and, while this is ongoing, we are unable to speculate on the cause of the crash," said Tairawhiti area police commander Inspector Sam Aberahama.

"The investigation will include a full mechanical inspection of the bus, along with an assessment of road conditions and any other possible contributing factors," he said.

Eight of the injured remain in hospital and there is some concern for one at Waikato Hospital.

"There is a woman from the accident in the Waikato ICU and her condition is causing concern," a hospital spokeswoman said this morning.

The wreckage of the bus being removed from the crash site. Photo / Gisborne Herald

A young man remains in a ward at Waikato and was said to be "stable and progressing favourably".

There were four injured still in Gisborne Hospital today - two women and two men.

"One man is in the ICU and is in a stable condition," the spokeswoman said.

"The other three are stable in a ward and one will be transferred to Middlemore Hospital in Auckland today."

Hastings Hospital still has two injured in wards there. Both are young men.

"They are both in a general ward and are stable."