Update from Ōtautahi

Te Puni Kōkiri has 11 staff on the ground as at yesterday and continues to rotate our Christchurch based staff with head office and regional staff. 30 Māori Wardens are deployed at Christchurch East and are now based at the Roy Stokes Hall in New Brighton. 16 of these are on duty at any one time. Ngai Tahu and TPK are continuing to facilitate and broker a co-ordinated and complementary effort between the government and Māori sector. Focus remains on Christchurch East.

Christchurch based TPK staff have been directed to take special leave from this afternoon and for the rest of the week, including the weekend.

By the end of March the Chch TPK presence will be operating in a more conventional Business As Usual (BAU) manner, albeit a post quake BAU. Auxiliary cover is required for the RACs for the next 3 weeks (2-3 staff in RAC base at Nga Hau e Wha).

Ngā Hau e Whā Recovery Assistance Centre (RAC)

Te Puni Kōkiri continue to manaaki people entering and leaving RAC. Yesterday was a slow-ish day with 50 enquiries processed in total – broken down as follows: Work and Income (24), Red Cross (25), Housing NZ (5), and Christchurch City Council (4). This reflects people returning primarily for food and financial assistance. Continue to refer people for counselling services. Yesterday’s referrals were noticeably for children. Received 5 requests for chemical toilets and 4 requests for portaloos – queries passed onto CCC to respond to.

Māori Wardens

Wardens continue door-to-door activities. They have delivered food parcels and chemical toilets, especially in the Linwood area. Have also assisted in delivering water to Pacific Island communities

Rehua Marae

The support of the Marae at Rehua has been outstanding. Activities have slowed with no Red Cross application forms received yesterday.

Other Recovery Assistance Centre’s

Staff visited Lyttelton RAC – fairly slow pace, similar to Nga Hau e Wha RAC.

Potential Issues

Possibility of tension this week as people begin receiving confirmation (or not) of the welfare applications.

Accommodation Outside Christchurch

Co-ordination continues to work well for upper South Island marae and for Wellington marae. Evacuees mostly in transit and calling in at marae for showers, food, clothing. Wellington has around 60-70 evacuees.

Tribal Support Packages

Te Puni Kōkiri staff in Christchurch are trying to gather all information on Tribal Support Packages in one place. If you are aware that your iwi have support packages in place, please could you email the details and the contact persons for this support to me, by return email?

Useful numbers and websites

• Click here to read the Ministerial statement on the earthquake made in the House on Tuesday 8 March 2011, by the Hon Dr Pita Sharples:
• Plunket Line 0800 933 922 (for information about ngā pepi & whānau)
• Government earthquake helpline: 0800 779 997
• Māori/Pacifica/ethnic communities helpline: 0800 KAI TAHU (0800 524 824)
• Additional ethnic communities helpline: 3555615 ext: 721 (9am-7pm)
• Missing people inquiries: 0800 733 276 or 0800 RED CROSS
• Healthline: 0800 611 116
• EQC claim line: 0800 DAMAGE (326243)
• Housing Help 0800 HELP 00 (0800 435 700)
• (for key information, council and Civil Defence updates)
• http://www.civildefence.govt.nz (for key information and status updates)
• www.ngaitahu.iwi.nz (for information for all Maori and ethnic communities also)
• www.google.com/crisisresponse/christchurch_earthquake.html (Google crisis response, includes person finder and map)
• www.sva.org.nz (for info on the Student Volunteer Army, and how to become a SVA volunteer)
• www.tpk.govt.nz