Goodhew Jo: Canterbury Earthquake Commemoration Day Bill — Procedure First Reading Second Reading Procedure Third Reading 
Goodhew Jo: Canterbury Earthquake Commemoration Day Bill — Procedure First Reading Second Reading Procedure Third Reading 
[Volume:670;Page:17140] 
JO GOODHEW (National—Rangitata) 
: 
 As I rise to speak on the Canterbury Earthquake Commemoration Day Bill I need to record my heartfelt sympathy to those who have suffered great loss as a result of the 22 February earthquake. Loss has come in many forms: loss of loved ones—and with that loss of future dreams and plans—loss of homes and possessions loss of businesses and jobs and loss of what we knew to be the Christchurch we lived in worked in and visited. Here I must add an acknowledgment to those from overseas who are also mourning lost ones and for some of them lost jobs as well. 
This tragedy became international from the moment it happened. Reports of the earthquake sped rapidly around the world and within minutes we were receiving texts and emails from people asking whether we were OK. Some of those texts and emails were never received and no reply with good news will ever be received either. In a modern world with communication tools aplenty being out of communication causes immeasurable anxiety particularly at a time like this. After the earthquake cellphones helped to save lives they helped to bring aid to those in need and they brought good news to many as well. We all looked at those texts with relief in our hearts. But the silence of cellphones when answers were sought was unnerving and worrying and in the end hinted at sorrow and loss. 
Although there has been great loss correspondingly great courage has been displayed and tremendous generosity exhibited. Again the international nature of this event has marked its gravity. Incredibly rapidly nations from around the world offered their assistance and New Zealand as a nation said “Thank you. Yes we do need your help.” We are a generous nation when it comes to offering our expertise to others in strife so it was no great surprise that it was reciprocated. It was no surprise; nevertheless it was a huge comfort to know that the numbers of our incredibly skilled emergency personnel and our urban search and rescue people were to be massively swelled by ranks of Aussies Singaporeans Brits Americans Taiwanese Chinese and Japanese. We welcomed them with open arms. 
Emergency services people in fluoro vests and in uniform brought enormous comfort to a nation on edge as we hoped against hope that more lives could be saved in the aftermath of the earthquake. The courage of those who have been searching will spawn heart-warming and emotional stories that will become part of this nation’s history. The early searchers were actually the people who were caught up in the earthquake. They displayed sometimes superhuman efforts as they freed trapped people. We heard of despair elation hope and tragedy. 
We must acknowledge the media and the way they brought this event into our lives through all of their mediums. At times the scenes of destruction became too much the bad news unendurable and we turned them—the media—off. But really we could not escape the reality of what the Christchurch people were living through so the question became what we were going to do in response. Everywhere—again not just in New Zealand but also internationally—the questions were “What can we do?” and “What should we do to help?”. I have witnessed and spoken to people who have become quite agitated because they personally could not think of a way they could physically help. But over time we have worked out ways to help—each of us in our own way. 
The armies of all shapes sizes and descriptions were there mobilised. Our own armed forces which so fortuitously were in Canterbury on an exercise were in Christchurch very quickly. Then we had the Student Volunteer Army the Farmy Army the Salvation Army the other church groups that mobilised their own armies of helpers the army of Government departments that swung their plans of support into action the health army the armies of businesses that looked to fill every need their own expertise could offer and the skilled and generous armies of volunteers who man every welfare centre and take aid to those in need. 
On Friday 18 March we will commemorate the event and it is fair to say that in my electorate of Rangitata there is a mixed reaction to the public holiday. The businesses in mid-Canterbury are concerned at the financial impact this unexpected public holiday will have on them. The decision to commemorate the event with a public holiday was not made without all the parties of Parliament considering its financial impact. The proposal the Government put to the other parties and to which they have agreed was to allow people through the memorial service to have a day on which to reflect upon the event and to be amongst their loved ones family and community. 
In South Canterbury the southern part of my electorate where people identify very closely with Christchurch and with their friends and families there and who feel like close neighbours of Christchurch there is no public holiday and some are not happy about that. Nevertheless there will be an opportunity for them to mark the commemoration with reflection. It is my hope that through the memorial service in Christchurch and the planned services at lunchtime in Timaru and at 9.30 a.m. in Ashburton our people can gather together to mourn to pay tribute and to gather their energies for the future. It is my hope that the day will be a day for reflection tributes and a strong sense of community and purpose. 
As our Prime Minister has said we will stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Christchurch and their loved ones. We will also stand shoulder to shoulder with those from other nations who have experienced loss. Our support shoulder to shoulder will not need to be just for today tomorrow and next week; it will be required for months and years to come. The people of Christchurch may doubt their strength when in the depths of despair but they are gaining in strength as are their neighbours in wider Canterbury. The strength of the nation will be from strong shoulders to help Christchurch in the days weeks months and years to come. Thank you.