Robertson Grant; Rurawhe AdrianMOTIONSTürkiye and Syria Earthquake—Condolences Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Deputy Prime Minister): I move That this House send its deepest condolences to all those who have lost loved ones in the devastating earthquake that struck Türkiye and Syria on 6 February and offer New Zealand's continued aid and support to the international efforts to assist the people of Türkiye and Syria as they respond to this humanitarian catastrophe.Aotearoa New Zealand stands with the people of Türkiye and Syria after the 6 February earthquakes. Our thoughts are with the communities families and loved ones affected including significant numbers of refugees and internally displaced persons. I also acknowledge the Turkish and Syrian communities in New Zealand. Watching these events unfold from afar must be unimaginably difficult. We are thinking of you aroha nui.The heartbreaking images we see on television on screens and social media show with alarming clarity the level of devastation that has been caused in Türkiye and Syria. The human cost is staggering. In Türkiye authorities have declared that more than 31000 people have lost their lives. In Syria the picture is less clear but more than 4500 deaths have been reported. These incredibly distressing figures will sadly continue to climb.The scale and magnitude of the destruction caused by the earthquakes is enormous. Across the two countries thousands of buildings have collapsed and many more have been partially destroyed. Delivering relief efforts across such a huge scale is incredibly difficult particularly when so much infrastructure—such as airports roads and viaducts—has also been damaged. These circumstances are sadly compounded by the harsh challenges of winter with many of those left homeless now braving the elements in freezing temperatures and snow.Last week New Zealand announced financial support totalling $4.5 million towards the response on the ground in Türkiye and Syria. This support includes $1.5 million to support the Turkish Red Crescent and Syrian Arab Red Crescent $2 million to be delivered through the World Food Programme in Türkiye and $1 million to support the UNICEF response in Syria. In addition to financial support two Fire and Emergency New Zealand specialists are providing remote support to the search and rescue efforts from New Zealand as part of a connected global team. Fire and Emergency New Zealand is obviously responding to ongoing domestic emergencies in New Zealand including Cyclone Gabrielle so we are pleased that they are able to contribute to this international effort as well.The Minister of Foreign Affairs contacted her Turkish counterpart last week to express New Zealand's solidarity in the spirit of our ANZAC friendship. Our embassy in Ankara remains in close contact with Turkish and Syrian authorities and international partners. The Government will continue to explore how else New Zealand can assist and we will be responsive to the needs and requests of the Turkish and Syrian Governments over the coming weeks and months.I know that New Zealanders will have been moved by the devastation that has been caused by these events. This is especially so given our own experience of living through significant earthquakes. This motion offers New Zealand's manaaki in support to the people of Türkiye and Syria whose lives have been so profoundly affected by these earthquakes and it is also to assure them that we will continue then to support them through their recovery.SPEAKER: The question is that the motion be agreed to.