Christchurch Earthquake
 

Christchurch has received a hammering with a violent earthquake today. There have been a great many people killed, and many hotels/hostels/backpackers/houses have been destroyed. The epicenter was only a few hundred meters from our house which has been severely damaged, and my bikes and workshop turned upside down. The good news is that all my family are safe and well.

If you need a man on the ground here to help someone, or as a point of contact, feel free to ask me. A private message or post here, as well as an email via my profile should get hold of me fairly quickly.

Regards

Nigel in Christchurch

Nigel, I'm glad that you and yours are all OK. I've seen some video and it looks very serious. Lets hope they manage to rescue those that are trapped.

Keep us informed.

Good luck to all.

Hi Nigel
Good to hear you and the family are ok.
Hang in there,
Chris

Our thoughts go out to all those affected by this tragedy. To all NZ'ers affected by the quake we hope that you are safe and well and we are thinking of you during this tragic event.

To anyone who has not been so lucky our sincerest of condolences.

Warm Regards,

Pascal & Arja

The images of the earthquake were aired as first news at national TV News also here in Italy.

Nigel, I am glad to know you and your family are doing fine and nobody among the people you love was hurted.

Sincere condolences to all those ones who lost their good ones, and a strong hug to all the people of New Zealand.

Chin up Nigel. Hope the rescue and recovery goes OK. Take care of your family and friends.

Additional specialist rescue teams from Australia, Japan and USA are already there, others on the way - about 700 people in total.

Earthquake in N.Z.
 

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I have been following this all day. Luckily you went unscathed. Your trans tasmanian brothers and sisters, will help as much as they can. Family is irreplaceable,bikes and sheds are, it will become good again.

Cheers

Helgo

+ 1, All the best

If you feel you can help out - pasted from the NZ Herald at Christchurch earthquake: How you can help - National - NZ Herald News

Donations
A Mayoral fund has been set up for donations to the citizens of Christchurch using the following BNZ bank account: 02-0800-084958-000.
Donations can be made to the Red Cross online or via the GrabOne website, as the Red Cross site has been crashing.
Donations can be made to the Salvation Army by calling 0800 53 00 00 (specify that your donation is for the 'Canterbury Earthquake Appeal') or at:
• Any ANZ Bank branch: Account number 01-1839-0188939-00
• Any National Bank branch: Account number 06-0869-0548507-00
• Any Westpac Bank branch: Account number 03-0207-0617331-00
• Any ASB Bank branch: Account number 12-3205-0146808n Key sa-00
• Any BNZ Bank branch: Account number 02-0500-0982004-000
• Any Kiwibank branch: Account number: 38-9009-0759479-00

Donations can be made to the Rotary New Zealand World Community Service here.
Across the Tasman, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia is also accepting donations for the New Zealand Red Cross.
The Christchurch SPCA has opened a Pet Emergency Earthquake Fund. You can donate money here or to the Westpac account 030802 0586429 00.
Paw Justice is sending food shipments to pets in Christchurch affected by the earthquake. Text "FOOD" to 4662 to donate $3.
Vodafone users can donate to the Red Alert Canterbury Earthquake Appeal by texting "Quake" to 333 to make a $3 donation to the Red Cross Canterbury Earthquake Appeal.
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs is warning people about an email scam, which uses Christchurch's earthquake as an opportunity to prey on the good will of New Zealanders.
Scam warning
Ministry watchdog Scamwatch said it had already received reports of emails sent from 'James McCoy', who claims to be from 'Donate4Charity NZ'.
It suggests the recipient can be the New Zealand manager of the bogus charity in return for a 10 percent cut.
The ministry said giveaway signs of an email scam include a generic email address, poor grammar and spelling, and an offer of a cut for accepting money.
- NZ HERALD STAFF / NZPA

Sad, but expected
 

If I wasn't so old and cynical I'd be shocked, but I've learned there is no event so tragic that someone, somewhere won't use it as a way to scam themselves some benefit (not always just money).

Our thoughts are with you and indeed everyone in the Christchurch area .
Glad that you and yours are safe .

Hope things look up for the people there, sad to see all the deaths and all the damage.

It is sad to see but there is going to people that scam others out of money in good times and bad. I use the red cross/red crescent to make donations most of the money gets to the people there.
You can take some huge amounts of money and still say you are a charity. Think there was some that held 80%. Seen a "church" set up a charity that spent millions in shipping a few bags of food and clothing once. See you need a ship to ship things so they got one then a crew and there food. You can not gust stop there all the little island along the way then once you are there why not spend time on shore. Stay at a hotel why not a nice one what with you doing gods work and then fly back the flock needs you. And on and on it went for a year or so till the bags of then old food and musty clothing. He then flew home sold the boat and put the money to new house and car. Some charity.

No I will stay with the red cross/red crescent fast easy to use and most of the time there. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to give a donation Red Cross Red Crescent - Make a donation
Christchurch Daily Deals - GrabOne

Hi Nigel,
wish you and your family all the best for the future and the Nzlanders not more of these troubles. Great to hear that you still offering some support. We plan to come over from Germany in November this year. If plans will come true we would try to contact you for a meeting.
regards
Robert

Do you have any information of Miss.Didem Yaman
 

Dardanelles University associate professor Ms. Didem Yaman was there for some educational studies. Her family have spoken to her a day before it happened.

Since then, no news from her.all official applications are made but ı believe
HU-community is the faster team.

Could you please try to give us information about the present situation of her.
She was staying together with a Korean lady. Now both telephones cant be reached.

Hope you can be helpful.

Best Wishes
zeki avar

Hi Nigel,

How's it going for you and you're family? Were you affected at all?

If I remember correctly you're not in Chch but up around Waipara?

Tragic mess - am just glad all my friends and family have come through OK although my Aunt lost her Japaness boarder in the CTV building.