Companies donating to earthquake fund
Audio, Radio New Zealand
Many of New Zealand's companies are fronting up with large donations to help with rebuilding in Christchurch.
Many of New Zealand's companies are fronting up with large donations to help with rebuilding in Christchurch.
Offers of assistance to quake-ravaged Christchurch are flooding in from around the country.
Sheep and cattle farmers in Hawke's bay have rallied round to help raise over 40 thousand dollars for the Christchurch Earthquake Fund.
Eleven million dollars has been donated so far to the Canterbury Earthquake Appeal. It comes as the Government announced early details of a recovery plan for people wanting money to fix their damaged homes or start rebuilding.
Over half of the $21 million donated to the Red Cross in the wake of September's Canterbury earthquake has been paid out. More than ten thousand grant applications have been received to date, including about six thousand since the beginning of November.
Thousands of Christchurch refugees have poured into Timaru since the earthquake on February 22, boosting its population by nearly 20 per cent. Social services are giving out hundreds of food parcels, blankets, toiletries and clothes every day as well as finding accommodation for people who have turned up in town with nothing. Major Dean Herring of the Salvation Army in Timaru has been helping evacuees find places to live as well as dealing with the huge piles of donated goods.