William Vuti had just three days to salvage the remains of the roof from his family home and rebuild it before flying from Vanuatu to New Zealand to begin picking kiwifruit.

'My brothers helped and we got it water tight,” says William, who with wife Lynrose, arrived in Katikati yesterday afternoon to begin work for Aongatete post harvest company.

Sonny and Delinat Karae cleaned up what they could after Cyclone Pam and secured what was left of their Vanuatu home before they flew to New Zealand yesterday to work.

On Saturday, when Cyclone Pam tore the roof and rafters from their home on the main island of Efate, William, Lynrose and their two children escaped to their only other refuse - their van – and huddled inside as winds and rain hammered their home.

As soon as it was safe, work began on the house, using materials salvaged from the tangled mess strewn across the neighbourhood.

Lynrose collected sodden clothing, bedding and linen and spread it out to dry in the garden.

Leaving was hard but the couple, along with 52 others who arrived in Katikati late yesterday afternoon, were even more determined to travel to the Bay of Plenty in the wake of the destruction Cyclone Pam has caused.

The money they earn under the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme has become a vital part of their own lives and that of the Vanuatu economy. In the wake of Cyclone Pam, that money is even more crucial.

These are resilient, hardworking people who don't wait for help or hand outs. Despite the trauma of the storm, they salvaged and rebuilt what they could, packed their bags, left children with family and caught a plane to New Zealand for five months' of work.

'Look that's all our linen and clothing outside drying,” says Lynrose, pointing to an image on William's phone of brightly coloured items spread across her garden amongst fallen fruit, branches and shredded coconut palms. Close by are severely damaged neighbouring houses.

'We had no choice but to come, even though we didn't want to. The money earned by this seasonal work is important for our families but is also an important part of the Vanuatu economy now,” says Delinat Karae, who arrived with husband Sonney on yesterday's flight.

'The solar panel we previously took back from New Zealand survived the storm and everybody was using it to charge phones,” adds Delinat. The Karae home was also damaged and hasty repairs were made before they flew to New Zealand.

Leanne Christie and Brian Ellis are camp ‘mum and dad' for the Vanuatu workers, with responsibility for their pastoral care.

Lynrose and William Vuti, alongside their family, re-roofed their cyclone-hit home on the main Vanuatu island of Efate in just three days, in order to make the kiwifruit season in Katikati.

For the second season, they are living in their bus next to the neat rows of modern mobile huts Aongatete has provided as accommodation for the seasonal staff. Adjacent is a common room, large kitchen, shower and toilet blocks.

Leanne says the last few days have been highly emotional. 'I don't think I've ever seen so many grown men crying at once, when we heard about how bad the cyclone had been,” she explains.

'The worst thing was the lack of information. Even now some people have not been able to contact their families on the outer island. They are desperate for news.”

One man does not know if his child has been born – it was due this week but there's been no word from his wife and family.

Leanne says keeping the group together and supporting them as much as possible was a priority and by Wednesday, when the fruit was ready to harvest, they were keen to work.

'It was so much better for them to have something to do,” she says.

Nell Dawson of Aongatete is impressed at the tenacity of the Ni-Vanuatu people and their determination to work this season despite the devastation to their island homes.

'They have been part of our staff and the Aongatate family for many years,” says Neil. 'Now, much of what they have achieved by working here has been destroyed and they must start again.”

Nell says the Katikati community, especially churches, have already offered aid and the aim is to provide staple food for the workers so more of what they earn can be returned to families in Vanuatu.

'People who want to help can donate money through Red Cross or deliver food such as Weetbix, rice, and baked beans for them to Katikati churches,” he says.

Anyone who would like further information about making donations or offering assistance can also email: enquiry@coolstore.co.nz or phone the Aongatete information line: 07 552 0916.