Robertson GrantGRANT ROBERTSON (Labour—Wellington Central): About half an hour after the earthquake was first felt Kevin Keehan realised that his family in Kaikōura would be in some danger. He was working near Wānaka. He then got in his car and he drove as far as he possibly could and he made it all the way to Mount Lyford before the road ran out on him. The person who came to his aid was named Hugh Northcote. Hugh's farm had been severely affected by the quake but what he did was work with Kevin Keehan to make sure that Kevin Keehan could make it through to Kaikōura to see his family. When he was asked about that Kevin Keehan said: That's what country people do they look after [each other]." The good news is that right around New Zealand country people and town folk alike have been looking after each other in the last couple of days.I want to pay a huge tribute to all of those in the emergency services in New Zealand—what the Americans call first responders—who get out of their beds when something like this happens and go out no matter what is happening in their own lives. I know that in Kaikōura with the volunteer fire brigade there were people whose homes had been severely affected who got up and went out and helped others and did not return home until the evening. That is the kind of spirit of response and empathy for the community that we hold so dear in New Zealand.As I say it was not just in the Kaikōura area that we were seeing acts like this. As has already been noted Mr Speaker here at Parliament you opened up the doors of the precinct so that anyone who needed to could come in. It was quite an amazing sight when I was in here early in the morning having had a look around Wellington Central to find dozens and dozens of people down in the foyer being looked after and being given breakfast and having other members of the public come in to say: "Once you have to leave here you're welcome to come to my house." That is the spirit of generosity that we have seen in city and in town and I think many people around the world have been staggered by the way in which the New Zealand Parliament opened itself up let alone the many other houses around New Zealand.I too want to pay tribute to the member of Parliament for Kaikōura Stuart Smith—who I think might be about to speak soon; I know he has done a huge amount of work—and to my colleague Rino Tirikatene. His electorate also covers this area where the epicentre of the quake was. As politicians it is a difficult time when your own community is affected and I pay tribute to both Stuart and Rino for that. We have seen an enormous outpouring of generosity and support. I want to pay tribute too to the student armies that have been recreated down in Christchurch here in Wellington as well and also a special one created in Marlborough for the occasion. It is great to see that across generations people are wanting to support those who are around and are wanting to come together.Clearly Kaikōura is going to require a huge amount of support over the next period of time and I want to join with other party leaders and politicians who have said that this House together will support them. But I also specifically want to mention the other communities in the Marlborough and North Canterbury regions that have been affected by this.Ron Mark: As we did today.GRANT ROBERTSON: New Zealand First did acknowledge that earlier today. I know that in my own family—for my aunt and uncle who farm near Ward this is now the second time in 3 years that their communities have been severely affected. In their case there are two houses on their property and they have to swap between the two as they reinforce them. Those communities have been hit hard and they too will require our support over the coming period and as the aftershocks continue I know how difficult it is for them.The other way that we come together as a country in these situation is in the services that we provide. Public services and servants have really stood up. I want to particularly pay tribute to those in the civil defence and emergency management area right across New Zealand but also to a couple of areas that we perhaps do not always note. I want to pay tribute to Geonet and the service that it provides in advising New Zealanders of hazards and I want to particularly pay tribute to Dr Ken Gledhill the Director of Geonet and echo his call for a 24/7 monitoring service in terms of tsunamis and disasters. We need that in New Zealand. It is a price that we need to pay to ensure we give New Zealanders the confidence to face these disasters.The other agency I want to specifically mention is Radio New Zealand. All media in New Zealand have performed a good job over the last few days in keeping New Zealanders informed but Radio New Zealand in its role as a public broadcaster has been outstanding in providing service to New Zealand including Susie Ferguson's amazing run into the studio early on Monday morning. It deserves far better support. Its funding has been frozen for 8 years. Let us make this the occasion on which the House decides we need quality public broadcasting and we will fund it properly."