Christchurch Earthquake

[D Ellery]

Just got back from Christchurch where as a building inspector I along with 25 others were flown down via the RNZAF where we were tasked with assessing the damage to commercial and residential dwellings. The media have well and truly covered the scale of destruction and tragedy that has hit not only Christchurch and its surrounding suburbs but also the historic port settlement of Lyytelton, so I wont go into such things except to say that I am extremely proud of our Armed services who I had the pleasure of dealing with while down there as with the local Police and volunteer Fire service's. I would like to say and I'm sure on behalf of all NZ'ers a big heartful thankyou to the overseas search and rescue teams who poured into the city and especially to our kin from across the Tasman who were on the ground so quickly and doing the business so professionally. David.