THE Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management received a rapid response boat from the New Zealand Government in Suva yesterday.

The rapid response boat was received by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Meleti Bainimarama, who thanked the counsellor for development from the New Zealand High Commission, Jonathan Rowe. “Disaster management in Fiji is unique and also challenging, given the spread of our communities, the geographic locations in which they live in and various sizes of these communities,” Mr Bainimarama said.

“The provision of such assets will greatly assist the ministry in reaching out to some of these communities, especially those islands in the maritime areas.”

The boat was christened “Ai Talai”.

Mr Bainimarama told the stakeholders present the name was derived after consultation with divisional commissioners.

“The name was seen as befitting as it mirrors the work of being a good servant and messenger to the people,” he said.

Mr Rowe said the commission looked forward to the strengthening of the partnership between the two countries.

“We have had a really extensive range of engagement with the ministry at an operational level but also at a strategic and planning level about disaster risk and response,” he said.