Wilkinson Kate: Ministerial Statements — Earthquake—Christchurch Earthquake Christchurch—Extension of State of National Emergency 
Wilkinson Kate: Ministerial Statements — Earthquake—Christchurch Earthquake Christchurch—Extension of State of National Emergency 
[Volume:670;Page:16958] 
Hon KATE WILKINSON (Minister of Conservation) 
: 
 Like many here I was in Wellington when word came through: another earthquake had hit my city. I knew immediately it was bad as the first photo that came through was of my cathedral. A sense of dread enveloped me; I thought surely not again. It was only minutes before my fears were confirmed and I heard that buildings in the central business district where I used to work had collapsed and that we would not escape without loss of life this time. 
Not being there made it worse. Up here I was stranded helpless and afraid for everyone I knew yet I had it easy. The fear I experienced came from not knowing whether my friends and family were safe. Some of those concerns took days to be allayed some still have not and in some cases the news was bad. That is what Christchurch people are living through day by day. I cannot imagine the fear of those who were trapped alive or of those lost and the enduring sadness their families are burdened with. 
I have been as proud as I have ever been of being a Cantabrian and seeing the mass of volunteers who turned out to do the hard yards. The Farmy Army and the Student Volunteer Army have been magnificent. Residents from everywhere have worked tirelessly taking on every task they can. Amazing community initiatives sprang up like the Rangiora Express. We cannot underestimate how amazing that contribution is. All are making a difference and I too cannot thank them enough. 
The community spirit and the resilience of Canterbury is outstanding. Our people and our community have been out there selflessly helping others when their own homes have been damaged and their own loved ones hurt. Our workers have done what had to be done. My own Department of Conservation staff have been out there in force. Again some of their homes were in tatters. We had 80 staff involved in the earthquake response assisting the Fire Service providing specialist search and rescue equipment providing four-wheel drive vehicles to help transport Red Cross workers around the city and even running the air operations controlling helicopter traffic at Hagley Park. The police army Red Cross search and rescue personnel nurses doctors and even the media all were there despite the devastation in their own situations. I think that is absolutely fantastic. The way that Canterbury as a region New Zealand as a nation and our international friends have all rallied to help Canterbury is truly humbling. We just wanted to hug those Aussie cops on the street corners and others and thank them. 
This earthquake has changed Christchurch and our region for ever. We will recover we will rebuild and we will grow closer as a community but to do so we must first confront and conquer the biggest challenge Canterbury has ever faced. It will require each and every one of us and it will take several years. A lot of decisions need to be made over the coming weeks the coming months and indeed the coming years about the best way to take my region—our region—forward. Take it forward we must and we need the nation along with us. We mourn we thank we pay tribute but we will recover together. It is tough but we will get there in time.