Collins Judith: Canterbury Earthquake Commemoration Day Bill — Procedure First Reading Second Reading Procedure Third Reading 
Collins Judith: Canterbury Earthquake Commemoration Day Bill — Procedure First Reading Second Reading Procedure Third Reading 
[Volume:670;Page:17132] 
Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister of Police) 
: 
 It is truly humbling to speak on the Canterbury Earthquake Commemoration Day Bill. I have just returned from Christchurch for the third time since the earthquake of 22 February. 
I will just take a moment to deal with an issue raised by the member who has just resumed her seat the Hon Annette King in relation to the memorial day and the fact that it is a shame we do not yet have all the names released of those who have lost their lives. I am fully aware that we may never have all the names of those who have lost their lives such has been the devastation that has been wreaked on some individuals. As that member has acknowledged the police are doing their very best to get absolute accuracy in relation to the remains of those deceased so that they are returned to the correct families. 
We should not underestimate the dreadful job the disaster victim identification teams—DVI teams—have had to endure. I visited them at their work. I can say only that it is quite clearly the Lord’s work because I am not sure that too many other people would do it. They do the most amazing job. When the bushfires in Victoria went through and killed over 200 people it took over 6 weeks before any victims could be returned to their families. Our team was returning them after a few days. It is a stunning effort from some fantastic people. I take this opportunity to thank all of the people who have been part of that team—all of the people from around the world and from around New Zealand who have been part of it. 
This memorial day is about those who have died but it is also about the many survivors in Canterbury who have to live with the fact that they have lost loved ones or friends and about those who have had their businesses and everything else destroyed around them. All they have left is their own lives. When we look for anything positive we can take from that terrible day of 22 February it would have to be the absolute value of human life. Those who are still alive even those who have lost limbs have had their backs or necks broken and have the most dreadful injuries still have life. They cling to life and they wish to live it as fully as they can. 
I know there will also be people who think this service will make things harder for many businesses because it is another paid day off. But I say that we should think about those people who have continued to go to work through all of this. Think about our police our corrections officers our nurses our doctors and our council workers who have been collecting the rubbish off the streets to try to do what they can. Think about the people who have been trying to reconnect sewers. Think about the people who have been doing all the plumbing and the electricians—the people who have been working all the way through. This is a day that we owe to Canterbury. 
I recently read a comment in an Australian magazine about this quake. It said for all Australians today they are Kiwis. I say to this House for all New Zealanders today we are Cantabrians.