Wednesday 23 February

Crew from the Royal New Zealand Navy’s Multi-purpose Vessel HMNZS CANTERBURY will be preparing over 700 meals for the people of Lyttelton, Governor’s Bay and Diamond Harbour following yesterday’s earthquake.

Navy personnel are also helping with security in the area. Meanwhile elements from the NZ Army have disembarked from the ship and have relocated to Burnham to assist with the effort in Christchurch.

At Burnham Military Camp Chefs from 3rd Catering and Supply Company are delivering 750 meals into the city - 300 for Police, 300 for Fire Service and 250 for New Zealand Defence Force personnel. These numbers are changing and are expected to increase by 100 police by breakfast time.

All up 3rd Logistics Battalion are producing 3900 extra meals a day to support the earthquake effort.

The kitchen is operating 24hr a day to meet this output.

The Chefs are being supported by Stewards to assist with cooking and Supply Technicians to assist in packaging and delivering the meals.

Meanwhile personnel from the Singapore Armed Forces who had been in New Zealand preparing for a joint training exercise, are helping man cordons around the city. A second Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-130 has landed with 36 people and 20,000lbs of equipment. An RAAF C-17 is expected to land later this afternoon carrying an additional 72 people plus 40,000lbs of equipment.

Meanwhile Boeing 757s and C-130 Hercules from the Royal New Zealand Air Force are expected to carry approximately 900 people in an out of the city in a series of flights today.

The New Zealand Defence Force effort continues.

ENDS

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