Hon Peter Dunne
MP for Ohariu
Leader of UnitedFuture

Wednesday, 23 February 2011

Ohariu MP Peter Dunne is setting up his electorate offices to co-ordinate accommodation offers from anyone in Ohariu and the greater Wellington region for Christchurch people displaced from their homes or just needing a break after yesterday’s quake.

“I hail from Christchurch originally, and I still have most of my wider family there. In fact, I was in the city yesterday until just a couple of hours before the quake.

“New Zealand is such a small country. We all tie into each other one way or another, and virtually everyone would have friends or family there. We are such a close-knit country and we really do pull together at times of crisis.

“Right now the people of Christchurch are in the full emergency phase with rescue and recovery, but very soon they will be drawing breath and a lot of them are just completely shattered.

“They have been through six months of hell and everyone is feeling for them and wants to help.

“One very simple way people can do so will be to open their homes, their doors and their hearts and offer people from Christchurch some respite, some support and some care.

“This might be giving them a weekend up here, a week or a short break – but letting them get out for a while.”

Mr Dunne urged those who had a spare room or the ability to host visitors from Christchurch to contact either his Maungaraki office (04 560 4773 or oharium.mp@parliament.govt.nz ) or his Johnsonville office (04 478 0076 or ohariu.mp@parliament.govt.nz ).

“We will compile a list of those who can offer help, and we will co-ordinate with official sources in Christchurch as soon as the emergency stage of this crisis is over and the offers will be of use,” he said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media