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A Kaiapoi farmer keeps his sense of humour after the quake. - Source: Defence Force RNZAF -
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Related
Helplines, official websites and offices
Information and updates for Canterbury residents can be
found at the
Canterbury Earthquake website or the
Environment
Canterbury website.
Also check out the Civil Defence website for important information and the Chch City Council website .
Other important numbers are:
Earthquake Government Helpline (24 hours): 0800 77 999
7
Healthline (24 hours): 0800 611 116
Earthquake Commission (EQC): 0800 DAMAGE 0800 326 243 or make a
claim
here
Federated Farmer farmers' helpline 0800 FARMING (0800 327 646)
open 8.30am until 5pm Saturday and Sunday.
Power: Anyone still without power call 03 363 9898 to ensure you
are in the Orion system.
ACC: Also contactable through the Earthquake Commissions toll
free 0800 DAMAGE number.
For earthquake reports and monitoring, go to the Geonet website.
Urgent medical or welfare needs other than 111 emergencies, call 03 941 6828. (Council)
For Non-English language speakers who need support, the Language
Line service which provides interpreters in 40 languages is
available via the Earthquake Government Helpline and
Healthline.
If there is danger to life or serious danger to property, call
111.
Council office
From Monday September 13, the Christchurch City
Council will have a building recovery office on the ground floor of
the new Council offices at 53 Hereford Street.
This office will include representatives of the Earthquake
Commission, building inspectors, engineers etc and will be able to
provide advice for residential and business owners needing to
re-occupy their buildings, arrange demolition, major repairs or
rebuilds.
The office will:
- Register the need for demolition, major repairs or rebuilds and
quickly obtain consents needed to proceed.
- Provide architectural/engineering advice.
- Provide access to property records.
- Determine eligibility for financial assistance from the EQC and
the
Mayoral Relief Fund.
Donations
By Tuesday September 21, $12 million had been donated to the Red
Cross.
The following organisations are accepting donations for those
affected by the earthquake.
Salvation Army - on their website or by post PO Box 27 001 Marion Square, Wellington 6141, New Zealand.
The Red Cross - Make an automatic $20 donation by phoning 0900 33 200.
ASB - Donations can be made at any ASB branch, via internet banking direct to the appeal account or through ASB Contact Centre (0800 803 804). Account details are: Canterbury Earthquake Appeal 2010, 12-3192-0015998-01
ANZ and National Bank - ANZ branch (account number: 01-1839-0188939-00) or at any National Bank (account number: 06-0869-0548507-00).
Kiwibank - The account number is 38-9009-0759479-00 and the account name is Red Cross.
BNZ - Donations can be made at any BNZ branch or online to: Canterbury Mayoral Relief Fund Appeal Account: 02-0800-0840040-000.
BNZ Salvation Army Canterbury Earthquake Appeal Account: 02-0500-0989994-000.
BNZ Red Cross Canterbury Earthquake Appeal Account: 02-0500-0982004-000.
The New Zealand Society in Britain has launched a fund so New Zealanders living there can make donations to Canterbury earthquake victims with a UK bank account.
The New Zealand Society will cover the handling fees of making a donation to the fund and the transfer the money back to New Zealand.
The government has announced it is considering giving tax credits to individuals and tax deductibility to companies that donate cash to earthquake relief.
Emergency grants
The New Zealand Red Cross Canterbury Earthquake
Commission is offering one-off emergency grants to people who are
no longer able to live in their usual homes due to structural
damage. As at September 22 it is also available to people who can
live in their homes but are also suffering undue hardship.
In order to qualify, it is necessary that homes have either been issued a "red card" building inspection certificate from a council-appointed inspector, a "yellow card" that specifies the building cannot be lived in until repairs are made or that a structural engineer has conducted an inspection and concluded that it is unsafe to live in the premises.
More information can be found at
redcross.org.nz
New quake legislation
The government pushed legislation through parliament to help speed up the recovery process in quake-devastated Canterbury. Find out more about the legislation here .
Water and Waste
The Emergency Operations Centre has lifted its restriction on the
boiling of water across the whole of Christchurch City, including
Banks Peninsula.
On September 17 the restrictions were lifted on having to boil water in the Waimakariri District. It is now fit to drink straight from the tap.
For information about storing or treating water in other areas, or for general information on coping in an emergency, visit the Get Thru website .
The Christchurch City Council says people with rates payments due on September 15, have those deferred to October 15.
Workplace
Information for employees and employers from the
Department of
Labour website. Includes health and safety and emplyment
relations advice.
People can also call the IRD, who say they will take account of difficulties in the aftermath of the quake - 0800 473 566
A business recovery website called Recovery Canterbury has been set up.
Insurance
For information about insurance and making a claim, go to the
EQC (Earthquake Commission) website.
Tax
Inland Revenue has pledged to assist Canterbury customers
concerned they might have tax or payment issues they need help
with. The IRD says it will take a sympathetic and realistic
approach with businesses trying to get back on their feet and
reopen their doors. The IRD Disaster Response line is
0800 473 566. There are also moves to give
tax credits to individuals and tax deductibility to companies that
donate cash to earthquake relief.
For more information on the situation surrounding tax payments for
victims of the quake, go to the
IRD website
