November 16, 2016
All hands needed for Kaikoura clean-up
Te Waipounamu MP Rino Tirikatene says the experience of the Christchurch earthquakes has helped people respond quickly to the devastation caused by the latest earthquakes in north Canterbury.
He says the immediate focus is on the whanau in and around Kaikoura, with Ngai Tahu, civil defence and emergency service all working together closely.
Once tourists have been evacuated, people can start looking at issues like emergency housing and people’s livelihoods.
"The main income for that township is tourism and fishing and both of those industries are likely to be unavailable for a while, especially with no access routes in. It’s all just mucking in together and making sure we are supporting each other getting on with the mahi," Mr Tirikatene says.
He says throughout the region people are staying remarkably calm in dealing with the extreme situations they are confronted with.
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