The village of Letia Tufuiopa officially opened their new and improved spring water pool on Friday.

The project is funded by the New Zealand Government and is an initiative by the Women's Committee to improve the pool for the village in case of problems with the water supply.

The Minister of Justice who is also the M.P. for the constituency, Faaolesa Katopau Ainuu, spoke about the importance of the improved development to the village and the Government. 

He thanked the New Zealand Government for its assistance which made the project possible. 

"I believe that this development aligns with the Government's manifesto to develop our natural resources for the benefit of all as well as improving public health and general cleanliness," Faaolesa said. 

"This constituency, especially this village of Tufuiopa, has a few spring pools where all the neighbouring villages come to when there are problems with the water supply.  However, we have seen the damage that the flooding and climate change has done to [...] natural resources." 

The High Commissioner of New Zealand, Dr. Trevor Matheson was unable to attend the opening but representatives Ella Risati and Lagi Tuaniu attended on his behalf. 

Ms. Risati congratulated the village for a job well done and acknowledged their application for funding. 

According to the village mayor of Tufuiopa, Tonu'u Amituana'i Misi, $25,169 was given by the New Zealand High Commission for the whole project. The women's committee itself contributed about $4k. 

The improvements to the pool have beautified the area; a garden will be planted in the coming weeks. 

"We gave the pool a new much-needed facelift. There was an area at the back of the pool where the rubbish was dumped, that has all been cleared and we’ve seen the importance of this to maintain a clean and healthy environment in the village," Ms. Misi said. 

"As you can see on this area up here next to the pool, we’re going to have our garden here to beautify the pool and can also be used to make flower arrangement to beautify the church, but of course at a price which can help generate money for the village."

She said the project had shown the talents of the young people of the village as they helped during its construction. 

Young people started working on the pool but also later improved the road that goes through to the Tufuiopa main road. 

A total of $3,600 was left after the completion of the project which Ms. Misi said will be used to buy seedlings for the village and hopefully start a flea market for the village. 

"After this project, we have $3,600 in our Women’s committee account which we are planning to use to buy plants and seedlings to distribute to the families in our village so they can grow their own vegetables," she said. 

"We are also hoping that if all goes well with the seedlings and plants that will be distributed to the families, that we will have our own little flea market next to the road selling produce."