1230 hours 2 March 2011

A total of 156 Christchurch evacuees had been registered with Work and Income service centres in the Waikato as at 11.50am this morning.

This figure, which includes the person actually registering and dependants, will be updated after new information from Work and Income is provided at 10.30am Thursday morning.

The registrations will include some – but not all - of the more than 80 evacuees who are being accommodated through iwi networks in the Waikato.

The Ministry of Education has also advised that 84 school students from Christchurch have been placed with schools around the region.

Some of these students are likely to be a sub-group of the 156 evacuees registered through Work and Income.

Waikato Civil Defence Emergency Management Group is seeking to clarify the exact numbers of self-evacuees and their dependants in the region.

Christchurch people can register for welfare assistance through the Government’s helpline, 0800 779 997, or by visiting any of the region’s Work and Income service centres.

In Hamilton, a one-stop-shop has been set up in Housing New Zealand’s Victoria Street office for Christchurch residents seeking help, information and advice. A similar information service has been established at the Huntly marae.

To help evacuees, Waikato Civil Defence is producing information cards which are expected to be available by the end of the week for distribution through key portals, such as the region’s airports, transport centres and hospitals.

Offers of, or requests for, accommodation in the Waikato are being centrally coordinated by Housing New Zealand. Contact 0800 435 700 or visit www.housinghelp.govt.nz. Full details of arrangements and services for Christchurch residents arriving in the region are available on the Waikato Civil Defence website, www.waikatoregioncdemg.govt.nz.

ENDS

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