Thursday 24 February 2011

ROTORUA 24.02.11: Rotorua mayor Kevin Winters has set up a message book so locals can express personal messages of support and sympathy to the people of Christchurch suffering the effects of this week’s devastating earthquake.

The message book will be located in the Rotorua District Council (RDC) Civic Centre for the next two weeks at least, and at a later time Mayor Winters will forward the book to his counterpart, Mayor Bob Parker of Christchurch.

Mayor Winters says many people in the Rotorua community have been distressed and upset by the destruction and sad loss of life in Christchurch. He was encouraging them to come in to the council headquarters to sign their names in the message book and leave their own personal messages to share with the people of Christchurch during this difficult time.

“The level of this tragedy is really beyond our belief and comprehension. It is having an enormous impact on the people of Christchurch and their families and friends. We’re a caring community and we must leave them in no doubt that they’re not alone or far from our thoughts at this time.”

“While we are many kilometres away from Christchurch, most of us here have been touched in some way by the tragic effects of this earthquake and many of us have friends and family who are directly affected. We send our aroha to each and every one of those people affected.”

Mayor Winters is also encouraging the Rotorua community to support one the Christchurch earthquake appeals. These include the Christchurch Mayoral Relief Fund through BNZ Bank branches, the Red Cross’ online earthquake appeal at www.redcross.org.nz/donate and the Salvation Army Canterbury Earthquake appeal on 0800 53 00 00.

“RDC support will be through the provision of specialist technical and professional assistance for the earthquake effort. We already have our rescue team on nine people on the ground in Christchurch and they’ve started working today with other rescue teams from New Zealand and around the world.

“We’re also compiling a list of other technical support and resources we can mobilize if more help is requested by Christchurch authorities. This is being coordinated through Bay of Plenty regional Civil Defence headquarters based at the regional council in Whakatane.”

ENDS

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