The New Zealand government on Wednesday trebled its total aid package to help rebuild public infrastructure in cyclone-battered Fiji.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully announced an additional package of 10 million NZ dollars (6.85 million U.S. dollars), saying the impact of Cyclone Winston last month was widespread and the task of restoring infrastructure would be long and expensive.

New Zealand navy supply ship HMNZS Canterbury's original deployment had also been extended and it would remain in the area until mid-April to support construction tasks by the New Zealand Defence Force in the northern Lau Islands.

The bulk of the funding would be used to rebuild schools, evacuation centers and medical facilities on Vanua Balavu and elsewhere in Fiji.

"We will also be working, through our wider aid program in Fiji, to help stimulate the local economy by providing targeted support to the dairy sector and agricultural exporters," McCully said.

This latest package brought total New Zealand aid to Fiji following Cyclone Winston to more than 15 million NZ dollars (10.27 million U.S. dollars).

The cyclone killed at least 42 people, and damaged or destroyed thousands of homes and other buildings.

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