Ngai Tahu marae hubs for earthquake relief

Ngai Tahu is sending volunteers to Takahanga Marae in Kaikoura to relieve local whanau who have been up for two days feeding and looking after the hundreds of people who have sought shelter.

Spokesperson Julian Wilcox says more than 1000 people have registered with the marae since Monday’s earthquake cut off the tourism and fishing town.

Some people have already been evacuated by helicopter, and the runanga is working closely with civil defence and the navy, which is sending ships to the area.

"They (will) do what is a mass evacuation on Friday, Saturday at the latest when HMNZS Canterbury and HMNZS Wellington and other ships will be able to get close enough to Kaikoura to ferry people away," Mr Wilcox says.

Ngai Tahu is also making Tuahiwi Marae near Rangiora available for people who have nowhere else to go after their homes were destroyed.

JULIAN WILCOX INTERVIEW

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