[Fordster]

Hi everyone,

Firstly I apologise for my absense. Our PC at home crashed and I only have this one at the workshop. So its a little difficult getting here at the moment. Been working extreme hours for a while now, so hopefully I can get another PC real soon for home, then its back to normal.

Well I'm sure you're all aware we had another earthquake in Christchurch, a real doosie this time. It's tipped the whole country on its head.
We've all been making the most of a steady increasing workload as the economy has started to pick up, and this has happened.

We are deeply frustrated that we cant just pack up, go down and help out. I have registered with the emergency services there so they may yet call if they need us.

We have put in for explosives demolitions of unstable buildings, unstable cliffs and land formations, assistance for geotechnic investigations and research, as well as welding, engineering supplies and products.

We have also offered our spare room and 2 beds for any one wishing to leave CHCH for a break.

We are, as from the lunchtime news update, 75 deceased and 300 missing. The bloody place is a wreck.
Little fresh water , power is out, and food distribution is a problem.

The US and Australia, have been the first again to delve in deep sending specialist teams and equipment, along with Canada, Japan, Taiwan, United kingdom, and offers from Israel, and Thailand.

Unbelievable. Words just dont have it. God bless you all. You are just the most amazing people.


http://www.nzherald.co.nz

 

[City Slicker]

Thank you for the kind words...I always like to see US dollars and manpower go where it is appreciated and I know your country does. It's a shame we waste money on other things and can't do more. God Bless You.

 

[Gunjunkie]

Thanks for the post Gordon.. Prayers Sent For All

 

[Cascade Jinx]

Forster,

I have a close friend and his wife who live in Nelson. Their son and daughter-in-law were in a mall in Christchurch when the quake hit. They got out okay and it took them hours to get to a friends just out of CC to spend the night, then another day or so to get to home Nelson.

My friends keep us posted on how they are doing via email. It has been a really tough time for you folks dealing with this tragedy. I want you to know our thoughts and prayers are with all the good folks in New Zealand.

CJ

 

[Fordster]

I am so glad your friends are OK, man, if that wasnt right in the thick of it. The toll is climbing, and we are all anxious to get in and help, but we have to wait to be called.
I am waiting to hear of relatives down there, through Mum, so will just have to wait.

Its awkward just having to wait, wait to help, wait to hear, Crikey.

The NZ Herald link will take you through as it progresses.

Once again, there just aren't enough words to thank everyone

 

[Eli Chaps]

One day at a time buddy. Stay safe.

 

[Aussie 1]

Thank you for the kind words...I always like to see US dollars and manpower go where it is appreciated and I know your country does. It's a shame we waste money on other things and can't do more. God Bless You.

Very well said, no different to our government.
Good to hear you're ok Fordster and best wishes to everyone in the land of the long white cloud.

 

[moofy07]

Hi Fordster,
Ditto the above posts, and keep youself and your loved ones close and safe.
It is also good to see Prince William visiting both sides of the Tasman. He is not coming to Bundy but it's just the thought I guess, he will bring happiness to those he does see. I guess he can't get around to everyone in a few days.

 

[Cascade Jinx]

I have been getting periodic updates on the situation in CC and nearby areas in NZ from our friends in Nelson. I got a 4th and latest update this morning. They had just learned of the first earthquake fatality that touched someone they know – a workmate of their son’s best friend had gone into town to shop over the lunch hour – she was walking on the sidewalk and the front of the building fell on her, she had 3 kids. They went on to point out all the other issues they have been dealing with sinch the earthquake in CC. I quote from their report -

"The dead remain at 182 (expecting 200 when they’re finished), 140 are now positively identified.
Miraculously, no one was in the Cathedral and they were expecting 22 bodies – unreliable
information from eye-witnesses. They say the reason the identification of the dead is going so
slowly is that the bodies are squished! Fred’s fishing buddy’s son is a dog handler in
Christchurch and said, “you wouldn’t recognize your best friend.”
One man POSITIVELY identified his wife. He had been with her when she died and said he
knew what she was wearing... but that body he was looking at was a man! So that's how hard it
is, and why the coroner is trying to go slow so no mistakes are made. I can’t even fathom what
is going on in Japan.
Since Japan is so much worse, soliciting international money will be hard for NZ’s government –
a dozen historic buildings is so insignificant compared to 10,000 people missing. But the
support and money are pouring in from locals. Our Lotto donated ½ its proceeds last week and
raised $8.25 million - people were happy to buy tickets even when they weren’t going to win
much.
There are concerts, ball games and other events donating the proceeds to the fund. There is
$34 million in Red Cross fund already – but $19 million has been spent already. Even the
Royals, Wills and Kate, have asked that people donate money instead of sending wedding
presents.
Unfortunately they have cancelled all the World Cup games that were to be held in Canterbury,
the stadium, grounds, and city infrastructure (busses, roads, motels, water, pubic toilets) is just
not reliable enough. This is a great blow to the local people, who were counting on the influx of
money into the region, and the excitement of something else to think about!
They are expecting to totally demolish 10,000 homes around the city and suburbs, and much of
that land is not salvageable, so people will have to relocate. Whole neighborhoods have been
abandoned with police patrolling for looters. Schools have started up again, but many under
canvas, including most of the university. Some schools are sharing the same classrooms, with
2 complete sessions during the day.
7,000 “refugees” came to Nelson, some are drifting back now, but many have stayed and
enrolled their kids in school. Several large companies that were badly hit have had to close
their doors – one carpet company just laid off 220 people. So 100’s are out of work (and we
don’t have much work here in Nelson, except seasonal fruit picking).
Counselors, staff from Work and Income (the dole), the Inland Revenue Department, and
representatives from temping agencies are working to help people through. An unfortunate
direct result are the rise in alcohol sales, family violence, petty crime, and an infestation of
rodents and wild cats is on the rise. Rats only take 21 days to breed and the control programs
have gone by the wayside… and now there is more rubbish about with restaurants abandoned,
and larders wide open.
* Many still don’t have water, but almost everyone has electricity.
* 300,000 tons of silt removed (there was only 30,000 total from Sept earthquake)
* No swimming in the sea because it’s now contaminated, the Spring Tides this week are
expected to flood and contaminate the rivers and estuaries.
* Mobile shower units with 18 cubicles installed are going through the suburbs (60% had not
had a shower in 2 weeks)
* Foreign students are shying away from coming to school (71 Chinese & Japanese language
students were killed in one building)."

I realize that the tradgedy in Japan has been dominating the news around the world, and that is understood. Just wanted to let you folks in NZ know that we still hold you all in our prayes and thoughts.

CJ

 

[moofy07]

Hi guys,
As I have said before, I believe the Earth is fighting back.

 

[Fordster]

I really cant thank everyone for the kindness, its huge.

Prince William is turning out to be one helluva dude. Mate, he bought more good spirit in a day than there's been in months.
He went and personally spent time individually with the 29 miners families too, while he was down there.

There is no question that financially, this ones been a back breaker to the economy. But with the incredible generosity from the US, Australia and all over the globe, seems we will make it through.

The life lost is just unbelievable.

But in saying so, what Japan got wholloped with just humbles us to nothing. The poor fellas just finished pulling our dead, and had to go home to that. :'(

 

[Gunjunkie]

Yep It's truly sad the loss of life.. property can be replaced

 

[Kaweskar]

Hello everyone and special greetings to all New Zealanders (is this all right to say?) in this forum:

How are your people in Christ Curch doing now, after these few months?. I truly wish the best for all of them.

We had our big one here in Chile on February 27th 2010. It was huge, with tsunami and all. Many towns and cities were severely damaged and still are having trouble getting back to normal. Much suffering for too many families.

Cheers to all from another shaky place.

 

[moofy07]

Hi Kaweskar,
Yeah, it's alright to call them New Zealanders. Here in Oz we have other names as well, basically we take the mickey out of each other. ;D ;D