Dunne Peter: Ministerial Statements — Earthquake—Christchurch Earthquake Christchurch—Extension of State of National Emergency 
Dunne Peter: Ministerial Statements — Earthquake—Christchurch Earthquake Christchurch—Extension of State of National Emergency 
[Volume:670;Page:16958] 
Hon PETER DUNNE (Leader—United Future) 
: 
 When we gathered in the House 2 weeks ago just over an hour after the earthquake in Christchurch none of us could have comprehended the scale of the destruction that was unfolding the loss of human life the injury and the awesome sadness and general shock that would quickly permeate that great city. We had heard at that time rumours that perhaps the cathedral spire had collapsed and that other buildings were in a state of disarray but we too in this House were suffering the same initial shock that very quickly grabbed the entire city and indeed the entire country. 
We have watched in subsequent days as the tragedy has unfolded before our very eyes. We have seen the people rescued from the collapsed buildings. CTV and Pyne Gould are now part of the national lexicon. We have grieved with the families from New Zealand and overseas. We have admired the indomitable spirit of the people of Canterbury the ever-present face of Bob Parker the rescue workers from around the world and the grim determination to carry on. And in the midst of it all we have seen moments of rare attempts to restore normality: the quickness with which things as basic as rubbish services were resumed; the fact that the daily newspaper was produced on the following day. They are all small signs in their way of an absolute determination on the part of the people of that great city to pick up the threads of their daily lives as quickly as possible. 
Apart from the physical rebuilding of Christchurch which must occur and must protect the spirit and the history of that city the far greater rebuilding will be the rebuilding of the confidence of the people of Christchurch so that Canterbury can now play once more a strong national role in the life of our country. We have heard all the statistics about the loss of employment. We have heard about the losses to our overall level of economic production. They are real; they need to be worked on. But the priority at the moment is obviously the rebuilding of the city and the restoration of normalcy to the lives of its residents. 
Others have mentioned—and I concur with their view—the immense heart and spirit shown by so many New Zealanders and international relief workers in helping the people of Canterbury in their darkest hour. Various suggestions have been made of the things that the rest of us can do to assist. Mr Anderton made the suggestion of donating a day’s pay. That is a good one. I will give one more: if people who are likely to get a tax refund on their charitable donations this year were to direct that refund to the earthquake appeal $154 million would be raised. These are practical steps that people can take to assist in the massive reconstruction of Christchurch. 
As we go about this task which will be ongoing probably for a generation it is important that all of us pause take stock and reflect upon the human impact of this disaster. I think of my nephews who are young men growing up in that city. Many will think of other members of their family and the future they face. The challenge for all of us is to be part of a reconstruction process that not only sees the physical locality of Christchurch restored but the spirit and confidence of its people restored and the contribution they make to the national way of life of our country restored. We need each other. The last few weeks have demonstrated how we work well collectively with each other. That challenge is only just beginning.