Christchurch Earthquake

Our District

How you can help Christchurch

Here's some advice for anyone looking to help the people of Christchurch following the earthquake on 22 February 2011.

View information about the Wellington Region Response here.

Fact Sheets

All fact sheets are in PDF and available for download and printing.

New Zealand Government

Please download this fact sheet if you have recently moved from Christchurch to Kāpiti following the February 22, 2011 earthquake.

Where to find help in Kāpiti Fact Sheet (4 pages, 116Kb)

Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ)

IPENZ have compiled earthquake facts sheets following the Christchurch earthquake which are available for download below.

Building Safety Evaluation (2 pages, 93Kb)
Liquefaction (3 pages, 1Mb)

Accommodation offers

People wanting to offer their rental properties, homes or billet people can register their details through New Zealand Government’s website at www.housinghelp.govt.nz or call 0800 435 700.

Volunteers

Many people are wanting to help by going to Christchurch as a volunteer. At present Christchurch are coping well with the response agencies, welfare agencies and professional staff, and spontaneous volunteers are not required at this stage. Additionally, they do not have the capacity or the resources to manage any incoming people or teams that have not been specifically requested. Again, the best form of help is a money donation.

Money donations

Donations of money is the best form of help we can give to the people of Christchurch. With this money they can buy the items they really need.

Donations for the Christchurch earthquake can be made to these agencies:

Red Cross – visit: www.redcross.org.nz/donate
Salvation Army: 0800 53 00 00 (Tell them your donation is for the ‘Canterbury Earthquake Appeal’)
Any ANZ Bank branch: Account number 01-1839-0188939-00
Any National Bank branch: Account number 06-0869-0548507-00
Any Westpac Bank branch: Account number 03-0207-0617331-00
Any ASB Bank branch: Account number 12-3205-0146808-00
Any BNZ Bank branch: Account number 02-0500-0982004-000
Any Kiwibank branch: Account number: 38-9009-0759479-00

Donated items

While you may want to send donated items to Christchurch, and it is well intentioned, Christchurch’s normal infrastructure has been severely damaged. Once goods are delivered to Christchurch, there are few places available to store them and even fewer ways of identifying household needs and delivering those goods to those who may most need them.

Christchurch Civil Defence Emergency Management and other Welfare Agencies are respectfully asking us all not to provide donated items. Money is the best donation and can really help people get what they really need.

What we're doing

The activity in Christchurch is into recovery.

Recovery for Christchurch will take many years, there will be priorities set by the appointed Recovery Manager, working with other authorities including the Christchurch City Council and Central Government. This Council will review the recovery plan to identify any areas where it may become involved or where opportunities for the District’s businesses arise.