February 15, 2016
Iwi rolls with the quake and stays on
Ngai Tahu has been checking whanau and buildings in the wake of yesterday's 5.7 magnitude earthquake.
Runanga chief operations officer Julian Wilcox says the Valentine's Day quake struck as the Tuahiwi Papatipu Runaka was holding its monthly meeting in its new earthquake-strengthened whare, and people moved in an orderly fashion out to the marae atea.
He says many Maori who moved away after the 2011 earthquake have moved back, as can be seen by growing rolls in the city's kura and Maori special character schools, and they're there to stay.
"Whanau have committed to come back to Christchurch. Yesterday's earthquake may cause some tension and angst but people have committed to come back, People realise it is part of Christchurch now and there will be some concern but most people are committed to staying," Mr Wilcox says.
He says the work done by the council on rebuilding infrastructure and intensive civil defence training means Christchurch people are now much better prepared for major earthquakes that they were five years ago.
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