Goff Phil: Ministerial Statements — Earthquake—Christchurch Earthquake Christchurch—Extension of State of National Emergency 
Goff Phil: Ministerial Statements — Earthquake—Christchurch Earthquake Christchurch—Extension of State of National Emergency 
[Volume:670;Page:16952] 
Hon PHIL GOFF (Leader of the Opposition) 
: 
 First of all I would like to acknowledge the family and friends of the perhaps up to 200 people who lost their lives in the earthquake on 22 February. They are real people. We have seen their faces. They are young and they are old. All of them have been taken prematurely from those who knew and loved them and we mourn collectively here today their loss. Many who died were young international students; young students who had come here to this country as our guests. We pass on our condolences and our sadness to their families across the world for their loss. 
To all the people of Christchurch in the House today we acknowledge the trauma and the loss and the hardship that you have suffered. All of us I think in the House today collectively give our assurance to the people of Christchurch that they will not face the cost of recovery alone; the cost will be borne by all of us as New Zealanders. 
Over the 7 days that I spent on the ground in Christchurch I saw the devastation that has occurred right across the city. But in particular I want to acknowledge the hardship still faced today by thousands in the eastern suburbs who 2 weeks after the earthquake are still deprived of power of water and of basic toilet facilities. They live in broken homes. As I went around those homes too often I saw elderly people I saw children who had been traumatised by this the second earthquake and the constant aftershocks. I am amazed at the resilience of people and the frequent response that I got when I offered my sympathy and concern. They said: “Don’t worry about me. There are others much worse off than me. Think of those who have lost their family members those who have been injured.” 
I have been amazed too at the readiness of people in Canterbury and people right across New Zealand to reach out and help others in need. We have seen out of this tragedy enormous community spirit. I pay tribute to that but for those living in Christchurch and still suffering that deprivation I understand the pressure and the stress that they are living under and that there is an end to everyone’s patience. 
To the people whom I have witnessed tirelessly working to provide the services and to try to make life better for others I say they have my huge admiration. To the emergency services utility services groups like the Sallies the Red Cross and St John thank you. You do a really good job. To the volunteers whom Clayton Cosgrove and I worked with in Rangiora shipping food across to people in the eastern suburbs thanks for your generosity. And to the volunteers and community groups that I worked with helping to deliver those services thank you again. You were amazing—the people who are working out of the New Brighton police station the people working in the community hall across the way round the clock to help others in their need. To the Student Volunteer Army and the Farmy Army thank you for your amazing efforts as well. I spent a day in Shirley working with the Student Volunteer Army of a thousand students led incredibly by Sam Johnson. Thank you Sam for your efforts. They are out there doing the work on the ground. People who looked as though they might never have known one end of a shovel from the other were out there doing their thing because they knew that others needed their help. 
I turn to my fellow Labour MPs and to Jim Anderton. Two of my fellow Labour MPs have lost their homes. They are living without power and without water and one of them is in a tent in the back section. I pay tribute to them and to my National colleagues for the assistance that they are giving in their communities. 
I have seen my share of tragedy down in Christchurch but I have also seen enormous courage commitment to others and an amazing spirit amongst Cantabrians which gives me confidence that Christchurch will rebuild and will re-establish itself. Finally I reaffirm my and Labour’s support to Cantabrians and wish them well in the massive rebuilding and recovery task that lies before them and us.