UN General Assembly
2011

security, and from the President of Tanzania about growing piracy on Africa’s eastern coast, from Somalia to Mozambique. We heard calls from the Indonesian Foreign Minister for bold measures to avert a renewed global financial crisis, and we heard from the President of Brazil about the challenge of empowering women to participate in political decision-making. As this debate has demonstrated, much more remains to be done. Lives have also been wrenched by natural disasters in many countries, including my own. On 22 February 2011, we experienced what my Prime Minister called New Zealand’s darkest day. An earthquake struck Christchurch, our second-largest city. A total of 181 people were killed, a loss we share with 15 other countries whose citizens also died. We were humbled by the support we received, and, once again, I thank those who gave that help. 11-51681 32 Despite that disaster and the literally thousands of aftershocks that have followed, New Zealanders remain resilient and optimistic. Christchurch is being rebuilt. Our economy is bouncing back and the country is