Significant support for Cantabs in Auckland
Significant support for Cantabs in Auckland
More than 2000 Cantabrians have now registered at Auckland’s reception centres, with agencies predicting a short-term population boost of up to 21,000 for the Auckland region.
Auckland Council’s Civil Defence team has set up three reception centres for people displaced from Christchurch, at Auckland Airport, Lambie Drive in Manukau, and Whenuapai, where they are allocated emergency accommodation and other support.
Auckland Council’s Civil Defence Controller Clive Manley expects there will continue to be a need for the reception centres for the foreseeable future.
“We are expecting an ongoing arrival of people from Christchurch – some for respite or short-term stays, some in transit, and some long-term stay or permanent relocation.
“So far, 1192 people have been provided with accommodation in Auckland, either through billets, community centres and groups, and in motels.
“The health sector alone
predicts a population increase for Auckland of up to 21,000
people, with resulting increased demand for housing,
education, social welfare and employment.”
All
residents who have left Christchurch should call 0800 Red
Cross (0800 733 276), to be registered.
Auckland has
provided the following in response to requests for
support:
• 144 staff from Auckland Council
deployed to Wellington and Christchurch, including: Civil
Defence staff (four), Auckland Council building inspectors
(60), engineers (three), Watercare staff and contractors
(39).
• An additional 47 staff from Auckland
Council are in Auckland working on earthquake-related
support.
• Auckland Police districts are
supporting Canterbury with 124 staff (including general
service police, incident command teams and disaster victim
identification personnel), cadaver dogs, generators, and
radio equipment.
• Auckland Fire Service has 69
officers in Christchurch
• District health
boards from the Auckland region have provided 40 staff,
including 15 doctors and 19 nurses.
• More than
1300 Aucklanders have offered to host people displaced by
the earthquake in their homes. A number of those coming from
Christchurch have been billeted to Aucklanders’
homes
• Auckland Transport has advised bus,
train and ferry companies to accept Christchurch public
transport discount cards.
Auckland Civil Defence is
coordinating the city’s support for the national state of
emergency. The Civil Defence Emergency Coordination Centre
in Auckland has been staffed 24/7 since the earthquake and
will continue responding to all requests from
Christchurch.
ENDS
The Ministry of Civil
Defence and Emergency Management is reminding New Zealanders
that cash donations are the best way to help Cantabrians.
Donations can be made via the Red Cross, Salvation Army and
branches of the ANZ, National, Westpac, ASB, BNZ and
Kiwibank banks. Details can be found at www.civildefence.govt.nz.
Useful websites
www.canterburyearthquake.org.nz
www.civildefence.govt.nz
www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz