In thinking about the quake

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2011

Thinking about the quake

In two hours time, as a nation we New Zealanders will stand still for two minutes and reflect on the shattered lives, property and dreams of those affected by last Tuesday’s earthquake. Two minutes to acknowledge in unity that this is the worst natural disaster in our living memories; that tens of thousands of Cantabrians are facing an uncertain future without their homes and their livelihood in the coming months.

Yet in this time of trauma and troubles, that great indomitable kiwi pioneering spirit has once again raised its head, rolled up its sleeves, tucked the sense of humour in the backpocket and got stuck in.

Says overseas experienced Urban Search and Rescue team leaders: “We’ve never seen anything so well disciplined and run when it comes to a disaster of this magnitude…”

Says the multitude of heroes who have dragged, pulled or picked people up out of the rubble before order could be organised, “Not a hero, anyone would have done it…”

Says clinical psychologist Nigel Latta, the maestro of un-pc sayings, “When it comes to aftershocks, just tell the kids the earth has farted…”

The Student Army, 14,000 strong, out there helping the sick, the frail, the elderly and getting on intimate terms with the business end of a shovel as the city tries to move 150,000 tonnes of silt in two weeks, much of it by hand.

The tens of thousands of kiwis who have opened their hearts, their homes and their wallets to displaced people or those whose trauma is such they simply need a break away. Some six websites and social networking media sites saw thousands of offers of temporary accommodation offered and Air NZ coming to the party by offering $50 flights anywhere from Christchurch.

The New Zealand Navy, thankfully berthed in Lyttleton harbor and able to cook and feed the walled in residents of the port which had been the epicenter of the quake. The Army and Airforce who got down there on the same day to help overstretched police batten down the hatches so the USAR workers could get in and rescue unhampered by frantic family members and sightseers.

That Rangiora lot, well, words fail me and many others. In less than a week, this driven pack of people have commandeered an army of helicopters, thousands of tonnes of supplies, have cooked, prepped, boxed, stored, packaged and distributed enough food and water to feel the many thousands who are unable to do it for themselves.

And the Canterbury Plains farmers. Never mind that their own jobs are full time. They’ve got in there with their shovels, cleared roads, come in a bit later with their tractors and diggers and cleared driveways, roadways and rubble as directed.

The Christchurch City council staff and contractors have worked beyond the call of duty to try and get as many of the city’s homes and businesses back in business as far as water and sewerage goes, knowing as they do that in Mayor Bob Parker’s words much of the infrastructure is “munted”.

Orion Energy’s tireless workers trying to get the power grid back up and running without causing more problems. Those who both lived in Christchurch and those who poured in from all around the district with their medical training, who were run off their feet trying to cope with bruised, battered, broken and simply traumatised Cantabrians from a medical perspective.

The huge heartfelt thanks to the 700 plus Urban Search and Rescue workers from more than 10 different nations who dropped what they were doing and got here within the first 48 hours – some, like the Australians, arrived the day it happened. These experienced people not only brought themselves, but they brought their dogs, their hundreds of tonnes of specialised equipment and the practical help and best wishes of each of their respective governments.

So many to thank. So many who have made a difference.

As time rolls on inexorably by, the real cost of this earthquake will become more apparent. We already know that the CBD will be closed for months, more than one third of the business buildings are so seriously damaged they must come down. Nearly one half of the rest are damaged enough to require remedial attention before they can be used again.

Some 10,000 people are without their home and the government is looking at ways to get this problem sorted forthwith, already stating that almost all big ticket projects in New Zealand this year will be cancelled or postponed in order for the money to go towards rebuilding Christchurch. Prime Minister John Key is calling on international governments for financial help – something we have never had to do before. Even with this, it is expected that those of us who own homes and pay insurance will find the EQC levy tripled.

This is hard going on our already straining economy, make no bones about it. In a time when the building industry in a critical position and many are heading to Queensland Australia where the work is swinging into place after the floods, it still will be months away before the real building gets going. The loss of big business in Christchurch can't be underestimated from a tax take perspective either.

There is a lot to think about and Christchurch will be on its knees for many months yet. It will be a big ask of New Zealanders, for like most people, once the first couple of weeks have gone by, we tend to get innured to something we do not have to live with. With this quake, no matter how far away we are, we do have to live with it; it will impact on us all for a long time to come. The beauty of it all is, Christchurch will rise from the ashes of this disaster, will become the beautiful city she is renowned for again and while some of our beautiful buildings can no longer be - well, if Gisborne could do it it 80 years ago as successfully as it did, so too can Christchurch. And the rest of this tiny nation will be right behind it.