Peters WinstonRt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First): Shaken but not broken" was the theme of the tragic Christchurch and Canterbury earthquakes and the people in Culverden Kaikōura Hanmer Springs Parnassus Seddon Ward Wairau and Cheviot have been shaken terribly. We can only be thankful that further lives were not lost and that greater numbers of people were not seriously injured.New Zealand First commends the work of our emergency services and Defence Force personnel who were quickly on the scene and who have done much great work since the earthquake struck shortly after midnight on Sunday evening. We saw in the Christchurch earthquakes how people came together as well. They are supporting each other and they are putting self-interest aside. People are still in shock—many have no power no water no flushing toilets—and so it is a time when political parties have to put our differences aside to ensure that all is being done to help people to recover physically and psychologically. Central government and local government must cooperate and do their bit. As I said we learnt a great deal from Christchurch and Canterbury. These lessons must now be used to help the people of North Canterbury Kaikōura District and Marlborough to get their regions back on their feet.Last night Angus McKay of Emergency Management Southland warned that if the Alpine Fault ruptured it would in his words "change life in New Zealand". We live in a country prone to earthquakes and events such as this and we should therefore be as ready and prepared as we best can. Perhaps it is time for a "quake safe our houses" approach as a national campaign.One or two things—not to introduce a discordant note but the rail and road links between Christchurch and Picton have got to be restored even if we are looking at an alternative in the long term. Building an alternative in the long term and neglecting what is there now simply would let those regions down dramatically. What I want to say is that when the immediate concerns are sorted out—and let us remember that this could take a long time—we need to consider closely the whole road rail and shipping strategy for the upper South Island and the lower North Island as well as the rest of the country. There must not be an emphasis—which we have seen—on the use of just one utility such as road transport.Could I just say that we have arrived at a time as a nation when we must look at having a cohesive viable long-term transportation strategy. This was exposed again in the events of Sunday evening. We have to plan in full cognisance of the fact that we are a country susceptible to earthquakes and natural disasters. The economic cost to this country is too great to have a half-baked system or an inadequate system and we must do our utmost to push aside vested interests and do what is in the national interest and in the regional interest as well.One sad note is the observation of looting that took place as a result of this event as it did in Christchurch. We did not take the opportunity when it happened in Christchurch to do something about it as a Parliament and we are all responsible. None of us who were here at the time is exempt. But this time we should do something about it. We are not talking—from my party's perspective—of sending people to prison. No. It is giving them a shovel and a pick and putting them out there 6 days a week so that they can work to redeem themselves for the evil that they are bringing into saddened people's lives exploited by the circumstances of nature. That is what needs to happen and we should make up our minds to do just that."