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World video travel guide
News • New Zealand • 2011-03-11
Royal support heading for Christchurch
Prince William will visit the New Zealand city of Christchurch for a national memorial service to honour the victims of last month’s earthquake.
Prime Minister John Key says Prince William will represent the Queen at the service in North Hagley Park in Christchurch on 18 March. The day has also been declared a provincial holiday for Canterbury residents.
While in New Zealand, the Prince will also visit Greymouth on the West Coast to meet families of victims of last year’s Pike River Mine disaster.
"This is a heart warming gesture that will mean a lot to the thousands of people whose lives have been forever changed by these events," said Key.
National memorial day
As part of the memorial day, New Zealanders will observe two minutes' silence at the exact time the Christchurch earthquake struck and flags on NZ government buildings will fly at half mast.
The memorial day will give New Zealanders and the international community a chance to mourn the loss of life during the 22 February earthquake, but it will also be a chance to reflect on the future, the Prime Minister said.
There’s been a change of emphasis this week, with focus on the future and positive steps towards recovery. New Zealand has reminded tourists that the country is open for business and welcomes visitors.
Christchurch city remains under a state of emergency but the remainder of the Canterbury region and the rest of New Zealand continue to operate normally.
Canterbury gateway
Christchurch airport continues to operate since the earthquake as the main gateway into the South Island - with direct links to main tourism hubs including Akaroa, Hanmer Springs, Methven, Ashburton, Kaikoura and Mt Cook / Mackenzie within the Canterbury region, and regions further afield.
International tourists already booked and those planning to come to New Zealand are being told that the best way to help is to continue with their plans and still visit.
Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism chief executive Tim Hunter says it’s pleasing to see many people are still pushing ahead with their plans.
"By doing so they’re helping our economy and our industry at what is a very difficult and challenging time," Hunter said.
Generous support
Two weeks on from the earthquake offers of practical support, generous donations and heart-warming acts of kindness and goodwill continue to flood into Canterbury.
While locals help each other by providing shelter, food, clothing, money and moral support - all over the world, expatriates and others with links to New Zealand have shown solidarity.
More than NZ$20 million dollars has been donated through official fundraising efforts from individuals, small clubs and groups to large organisations staging everything from bake days, sausage sizzles and favourite toy donations, to major concerts and events.
Chinese donations
China Southern Airlines - which has just announced a new direct service between Guangzhou and Auckland - has donated NZ$100,000 to the earthquake recovery fund. New Zealand currently welcomes 123,000 visitors from China each year.
Chinese businessman Yaxun Zhang from Henan has also donated NZ$100,000 to the earthquake appeal after reading about Chinese people caught up in the tragedy.
And performers coming from Taiwan for the Auckland Arts Festival will be donating their first night's takings to Christchurch.
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office director Carl Yang said Taipei's U Theatre will be in New Zealand for the first time to perform their music and theatre performance ‘Sound of the Ocean’.
Ex-pat support
In Vietnam, New Zealand expatriates have raised more than NZ$100,000 for the relief effort - through auctions, raffles and fundraising activities that mirror actions of support around the world.
Ex-pats in London gathered to show solidarity for their countrymen by staging concerts, shows, club events and workplace collections - helping to boost appeal funds through organisations like the Red Cross.
Kiwis working for UK broadcaster ITV had a whip around at work and came up with £8,000 - matched dollar for dollar by the ITV management.
Efforts to rebuild the badly hit Christchurch Cathedral have been given a NZ$4 million boost by English entrepreneur Hamish Ogston, who said he had stayed in Christchurch and visited the cathedral.
Island holiday
As well as generous financial donations, offers of accommodation, food and clothing - support has also been given by neighbouring Pacific Islands.
Airlines and resorts in Fiji are offering heavily discounted beachside holidays for grieving and homeless Christchurch residents.
Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association president Dixon Seeto said Air New Zealand, Fiji's national carrier Air Pacific, and a number of major hotels were cooperating to offer the deals.
The Amazing Race
Phil Keoghan, host of the international television series The Amazing Race, grew up in Christchurch and returned to the city to assess the earthquake and help portray an accurate message to the rest of the world.
He said it is important for people to know that Christchurch is "down but not out" and the doors for tourism in New Zealand are open.
Kiwi comedian Rhys Darby, who lived and studied in Christchurch and says he found his wife there, said the best thing about the city was not the buildings or places but the people. "Cantabrians - you guys rock, please, stay strong."
Throughout New Zealand, money is being raised by countless innovative projects - goods offered for sale have ranged from the jacket that Christchurch mayor Bob Parker wore in the days after the earthquake to the boulder which came crashing down into a Christchurch garage. More than NZ$60,000 was raised by the online auction.
Chain reaction
A secondary school student from Greymouth on the South Island’s West Coast raised NZ$2000 in a week through an innovative idea called ‘Operation chain reaction’ - involving school house groups who paid 50 cents for every online link.
A black tee-shirt appeal started by an Auckland real estate agent has won the support of several New Zealand celebrities including former Governor General Dame Cath Tizard and All Blacks coach Graham Henry. All money raised from the sale of the ‘Christchurch our hearts are with you’ shirts will be donated to the Christchurch earthquake appeal.
A 24-hour radio station on the East Coast of the North Island has raised NZ$60,000 through a radio-thon on local Radio Ngati Porou and Turunga FM.
Charity events
Charity sports events, shows, concerts and gigs are being announced on a daily basis and some scheduled in the weeks ahead include "To Christchurch with love" - a major concert in Auckland on 2 April, organised by New Zealand singer Elizabeth Marvelly.
The concert will also feature Britain’s Got Talent phenomenon Paul Potts, the NZ Symphony Orchestra, Dame Malvina Major, The Lady Killers, Tim Beveridge and other prominent New Zealand entertainers. More than 100 artists and industry professionals will donate their talents and services in support of the Christchurch community.
Potts said he was only too willing to help out. "My thoughts and prayers go out to all affected by this disaster. Kiwis are big-hearted people who are also rightfully proud of their beautiful country. No one knows what the immediate future holds, but one thing is certain, this disaster will NOT defeat the spirit of the people of Aotearoa," says Potts, who began his tour of New Zealand in Christchurch in 2008.
Nationally-funded arts organisations are also joining the bid to raise money for victims of the earthquake. The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the Royal New Zealand Ballet and Te Matatini are all organising free fund-raising events.
Cricket fundraiser
Prime Minister John Key is joining the star line-up for a cricket quake fundraiser at Wellington's Basin Reserve on 13 March.
'Fill the Basin for Christchurch' will feature Hobbit stars, All Black captains past and present, and the Kiwi cricketing community’s finest.
Shane Warne will bowl to the Prime Minister, actors Russell Crowe and James Nesbitt are the coaches, and the match referee is Ian McKellen. All Blacks Richie McCaw and Conrad Smith will umpire the game.
In Sydney, All Black great David Kirk will be doing his bit for the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal by taking part in a fundraiser at Bondi RSL.
An All Blacks Earthquake appeal for kids has been launched by the New Zealand Rugby Union to raise money for children and their families in Christchurch. It is the first time the organisation has ever launched a worldwide, direct appeal to rugby fans and supporters.
Thanks to hospital staff
And hospital staff working to help the injured and sick in the wake of the earthquake, say they have been inundated with gifts and donations.
Home baking, messages of support and other goods have flooded into the Christchurch Hospital emergency department since the quake.
One Auckland family paid to provide catered meals for a week. Emergency department nurse Nikki Collis says the public support has helped her keep going.
