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John Key and mayor Bob Parker survey the damage to buildings in central Christchurch following the quake - Source: Reuters -
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Prime Minister John Key today praised New Zealanders, especially the people of Canterbury, for coming together to help each other in the worst of times.
Key, who was this afternoon traveling to Christchurch with Labour leader Phil Goff in a show of unity, made a speech to parliament four days after the 7.1 earthquake which damaged an estimated 100,000 homes in Christchurch and surrounding areas.
He said: "It was a frightening experience for everyone, but it has proven one thing: that in the worst of times, you see the best of New Zealand.
"I have been impressed by the community spirit shown - from private individuals, to government agencies, NGOs, and businesses, both local and national."
He also praised the local mayors for their leadership, neighbours who have taken people in, Work and Income staff who have visited or called elderly people and students who have used Facebook to round up volunteers.
Earlier this morning, the PM announced he had cancelled his overseas trip to Europe to stay behind and deal with the catastrophe.
Key and his wife Bronagh were due to visit London and Paris, where Key was to have met Britain's new Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
He was also supposed to stay with the Queen at Balmoral.
In his statement, Key said he was awestruck by the power of the quake and the damage that it has caused "in the city I grew up in".
"Although no one lost their life in the Canterbury earthquake, families have been traumatised and lost their valued possessions," Key said.
He said the nation was thankful for an outpouring of support and sympathy from governments around the world.
It comes after the New Zealand government rejected any assistance from the US and UN yesterday.
Key said there would likely be considerable disruption to both the local and national economy in Christchurch as it was New Zealand's second largest city.
Key, Goff and senior members of the government will fly to Christchurch today on an air force plane, to meet local mayors and plan the next vital steps in the city's recovery from Saturday's devastating earthquake.
Third-ranked cabinet minister Gerry Brownlee has been put in charge of a special reconstruction committee.
The high-ranking group will then have a briefing with Christchurch mayor Bob Parker at 5pm.
Not the time for politics says Goff
Goff told reporters earlier in the day that it was not a time for party politics.
"It's about the people of Canterbury and the need to help them," he said.
"I think it's time for the whole country to pull together."
Goff said Labour was committed to working with the government.
"I think the authorities on the ground and the government are taking the situation really seriously," he said.
"There's a whole lot being done. If there are gaps I hope that those gaps will be addressed."
Goff said Labour's Christchurch MPs were in daily contact with their constituents.
"They're not worried whether their constituents are Labour or National or anything else. They're worried about giving them the help they desperately need."
Goff agreed that people who were going to lose pay needed assistance and said he was ready to work with the government to find the best way of doing that.
"I think New Zealanders want us to err on the side of generosity," he said.
Goff said he wasn't going to criticise the government's response to the crisis.
"What I have seen on the ground has been really good. Civil Defence, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, MPs, all working hard for their communities and all working together and that's what we really need to do."
No worries over Christchurch stay; Brownlee in charge
Tonight, Key also plans to visit the Addington and Linwood welfare centres, and will stay overnight in Christchurch and tomorrow will visit some of the hardest-hit rural areas.
He said he was not worried about travelling and staying overnight in Christchurch, despite ongoing aftershocks there.
Key said he had not received information about the scope of further aftershocks.
"There's a settling process that the region's going to go through, that geologists will understand better than me."
It was possible further damage would be caused by aftershocks, he said.
"People can certainly take comfort in the fact that it doesn't really matter when their house is damaged. If it is damaged they will be covered as long as they have insurance by EQC or private insurers."
The Prime Minister said Brownlee had been given the task of overseeing the recovery because he could "knock heads together" and sweep away bureaucratic roadblocks.
It's understood the government will roll out phase two of an assistance package this afternoon, which could include workers receiving some sort of assistance grant.
Brownlee will be based in Christchurch, giving daily media briefings and keeping in touch with his cabinet colleagues and government and local agencies.
Key said yesterday speeding up the recovery was a priority.
Consenting processes would be streamlined and money pulled from other areas to rebuild and repair damaged buildings and infrastructure.
Finance Minister Bill English would also be involved, making sure banks and the IRD co-operated with local businesses so they didn't go under because they couldn't trade for a while.
Key told reporters more than 100,000 houses had been damaged, as well as roads, railways, businesses and farms.
While resources would be pumped into Canterbury and $94 million would be immediately available for road repairs, Key asked people to be realistic about how long it was going to take.
"Do I think a year from now it is likely construction will still be going on? The answer is yes," he said.
Financial assistance package
Key said the government was working on a financial assistance package for those who could not work because of the quake.
"We're just in the final process of buttoning it down, but quite a lot of good work has been completed this morning and we're getting quite close," he said.
The assistance was likely to be for people paid wages or those on casual work rather than those on salaries.
Earlier today Key said the government was conscious of people who were not being paid and had talked with officials in the Australian state of Victoria who faced a similar situation after the bushfires there.
The assistance was likely to be in the form of a temporary grant provided through emergency welfare.
"The waitress that's working at one of the bars in Christchurch that's closed as a result of the earthquake, for no fault of her own, can't go to work and has to meet her obligations. That's a little unfair if she can't be paid."
Agriculture Minister David Carter has visited farms near the quake's Darfield epicentre and yesterday reported ruined homesteads, damaged milking sheds, toppled grain silos and an unknown level of damage to irrigation.
Carter said restoring power was a priority because farmers relied on it to distribute water to stock.
Some had shifted stock to where water was available and some had cut fences to access old water canals.
"It's going to take a long time for these farms to get back to normal," he said.
How do rate the Civil Defence response to the quake? Have your say on the messageboard below.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentmusopete said on 2010-09-10 @ 12:47 NZDT: Report abusive post
Go the Kiwi battler! Hold ya heads high.
Australianne said on 2010-09-10 @ 11:40 NZDT: Report abusive post
2nd that about the light font...it is difficult to read. Just wanted to say I'm so proud of NZers for the way in which they've pulled together in such a uniquely Kiwi way. No other country (even Australia) comes close to that! Well, maybe Australia comes close, but still, Kiwis lead the world in their kind-hearted attitude in the face of disaster.
H said on 2010-09-10 @ 10:24 NZDT: Report abusive post
Would love to comment but the comments are displayed on this website in such a tiny, light coloured font that they're virtually unreadable.
SSAMA said on 2010-09-10 @ 07:38 NZDT: Report abusive post
CD has done a great job in difficult circumstances - difficult to get up to date info to people without power. Website I have found most useful for info is the TVNZ live updates - great that it is updated regularly and the info is generally accurate. Well done TVNZ
Australianne said on 2010-09-09 @ 20:31 NZDT: Report abusive post
Given that TVNZ is probably a world leader in their ability to keep us all informed after the earthquake, CD has done an ok job. But note, that is 'ok', not 'wonderful'. CD should link up with TVNZ and learn how to get that info out in a timely manner! This is more a pat on the back to TVNZ than having a go at CD. I'm sure they have lots of other duties keeping them busy. Keep it up guys. Well done.