New Zealand

[B.Walker]

Hmmm... hardly a "Relatively Small Earthquake" from our perspective, when we're talking 100,000 homes damaged and much of the Central City being demolished. 

[melbxs]

Just reads like a pop at foreigners Christian. Sorry if not.

I think it's like the Aussie fires. Horrible mess, but Australia was quite well prepared to do the cleanup themselves. Nice to be offered, but no real need.

Some of the overseas disasters affect literally millions (or tens of millions) of people. They are on a completely different scale.

We wouldn't hear about a relatively small earthquake like the Christchurch one if it wasn't in our nearest neighbours country.  There's also been a lot of local news, so the telly probably ignored any offers made. (there's a very brief mention on the ABC site)

You need a few hundred killed in a far off land before it get a whisper of a mention.

[Christian Raith]

I never said there was anything bad about helping others as a matter of fact I usually donate to funds towards the help. I was just making the point I had not heard of any help offered to NZ

[melbxs]

Julia Gillard offered any support that they could, but NZ are well prepared and already have their own troops in doing the cleanup. The Salvation Army were on the radio this morning saying that they had more than enough food, blankets etc. so it would be a bit silly to force the Kiwis to take some help they don't need.

I hope if a Tsunami wiped out our entire East coast that the world would chip in to help us. I can't understand what you think is bad about helping people who really need some help - or is it just about their colour?

[Christian Raith]

Those Fire'ies are probably volunteers but at least our useless govt could have organized some help.....they could call it a another "Stimulus Package".
Even with the political state our joint is in they should at least send over some engineering military to help with the cleanup and rebuild.

Or is it that we don't have to suck up to our mates in NZ

[B.Walker]

Probably going to send a few Maori's back to help with the clean up. 

We're okay. No lives lost yet and property can be rebuilt. Place is a mess though. I have a brother and family in the thick of it and the stories being told are'nt pretty. Much of Christchurch Central City area is old, built from red brick and lime mortar, and the quake was such a violent shake, that most of the lime let go hands and "the walls came tumbling down". That being said, there's an awful lot of new housing in the suburbs that have been ripped apart as well, literally ripped apart. Estimates at this point are around 100,000 homes damaged. The biggest problems being faced at the moment are the aftershocks, over a 100 so far, causing further collapses of buildings weakened in the first one, and illness from the broken sewerage system contaminating the drinking water. The sewerage and water woes will go on for months.

I heard on the news this morning that some of the firefighters we helped out in the Kinglake fires are rallying and heading our way to help.    I'm sure there will be others, and while we will appreciate it, we are a pretty stoic bunch who will battle on with or without help.

[Christian Raith]

Hope everyone there is OK after the quake.
Funny how our govt here will send off money all over the world to help countries, even the ones that hate us BUT has anyone heard what Aus govt is doing for NZ?.