Post-harvest company Aongatete has set up a trust to help support the families of five Tongan men killed in a traffic accident last week.

Father and son, Koli Vaipulu (son), 21, and Uloupini (Stephen) Vaipulu (father), 44, Sione Teulaka, 21, Samuela Taukatelata, 28 and Halani Fine, 28 died in the crash on Tuesday night which has left the Tongan community both in New Zealand and in Tonga and the wider Katikati community, in shock.

The five men who were killed in last week's horrific crash. File Photo.

Aongatete director Allan Dawson says the Tongan men working at Aongatete had pledged to support their families left at home in Tonga and in particular educate their children, brothers and sisters.

'The fifth man was earning money to carry on his education to be a counsellor. He didn't want to be a burden on his mother and brothers.

'Aongatete has pledged to honour the pledges of these men and believes a trust that meets educational requirements of these families is the most appropriate vehicle.

'A number of companies, corporates and individuals have asked to support this trust and in fact many have already sent money to us for this purpose.

'Some of these people are other staff members who cannot afford to donate money but who have none the less turned up with envelopes of cash.”

Allan says the affairs of the trust will be under the control of appropriately appointed trustees and all donations will be acknowledged.

'It is my intention to co-ordinate where possible a number of other funds which have been offered for example the New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers and HortNZ emergency fund and Give a Little page set up by the Tongan Community in Auckland.

'Aongatete would sincerely like to thank those who have sent messages of sympathy and condolences following the recent fatal accident that claimed the lives of five Tongan men working at the site and for expressions of interest to contribute to the trust fund set up for the Tongan families.

'Four of these men were part of the Recognised Seasonal Employment (RSE) scheme which we all recognise as being critical to both the New Zealand kiwifruit industry and horticulture in general, and the Tongan community and families themselves,” says Allan.

If you would like to make a contribution, the details for this are:

Bank Deposit: Westpac – 03 1550 0017661 02 – Aongatete Coolstores Ltd

Cheques: Aongatete Trust (Tongan Appeal) or

Cash: Appropriately labelled to the reception at the Aongatete Coolstores Ltd main office in Dawson Lane.