CHRISTCHURH EARTHQUAKE

Who would have thought that we would be updating this page from the affects of the Canterbury Earthquake with one on the Christchurch Earthquake?

First of all I would like to reassure you that Warwickz Farm was this time unaffected physically by the earthquake, we thought it was just another of the thousands of aftershocks we have experienced since Sept 4th, though at the more violent end of the scale.

Secondly we would like to say a very sincere and heartfelt thank you to all the many guests who have befriended us over the years for their emails, concern and prayers we have received over the past two weeks. They really have been chicken soup for the soul.

The worlds media have covered the tragedy of our City and citizens in graphic detail and we will not dwell too much on it here however we would like to share some personal observations.

We have never felt so proud of our nation, the countless heroes who have stood up and alas some also fallen, the countless acts of courage and bravery displayed. The resourcefulness of everyone from the elderly who have manned their stoves producing scones cakes etc to feed the tens of thousands of volunteers who have rushed to assist the less fortunate to the politicians who have left their comfort zones and all of those in between.

Especially heartwarming to see was the Student Army of 20,000 young people who volunteered not for the newsworthy work in the CBD but the dirty exhausting task of cleaning up the suburbs, working in the streets and the homes of the people.

As the for the rescue crews who arrived from all over the world we feel along with a sense of immense gratitude also a sense of humility. Living in such a remote part of the world it is humbling to think that so many countries really do care about little old New Zealand.

Many people around the world wish that they could do something to help Christchurch and New Zealand and there is something very important they can do to assist in our recovery, it is very simple and it is this -

Remember that Christchurch and Canterbury are still and will remain wonderful tourist destinations. Christchurch Airport is fully operational and Christchurch, Canterbury and New Zealand need the lifeblood of tourism to flow through Christchurch and into the South Island.

Thank you for caring