The Rotary family’s thoughts are with all the people of Christchurch which include all our fellow Canterbury Rotarians, their families and communities at this challenging time.
The New Zealand and Pacific Islands Rotary website www.rotarysouthpacific.org/site.cfm as your first source of information about Rotary’s response to the earthquake disaster in Canterbury, and how you can help.
This website includes contact information for contributions and donations of all types, and it is being continually updated with new information as this becomes available.
Updates and news about Rotary’s involvement can be emailed to:
for posting on to the website as soon as possible.
Please make donations to the Rotary New Zealand Canterbury Earthquake Appeal via:
Internet banking telegraphic transfer to Westpac Banking Corporation, Wellington, NZ account number 03 1702 0192208 02 (international donors will also require Swift Code WPACNZ2W, IBAN Code 031702) for account name RNZWCS Limited (Rotary New Zealand), and include reference Rotary New Zealand Canterbury Earthquake Appeal, or
Cheque made payable to RNZWCS Limited posted to PO Box 20309, Christchurch 8543, New Zealand
Rotary District 9970 on behalf of all Rotary clubs in Christchurch are combining all fundraising through a committee set up by District Governor Margaret Reeve for the distribution of funds to various projects that will be commenced once needs can be established that are not able to be supported by Government and other agencies.
All donations received by RNZWCS Limited will go into that fund. This strategy will allow Rotarians to do something significant and allow other agencies to concentrate on welfare. Your funding to support the combined clubs will be used in conjunction with the projects established by the DG’s committee.
Your donations are tax deductible, and 100% of donations will go to Canterbury Earthquake recovery projects via Rotary. Thank you!
Donations contact is: RNZWCS Director Past District Governor Stuart Batty JP email
RNZWCS Charities Commission Reg. No. CC26860
CHRISTCHURCH UPDATE [27 February on day 6 after the earthquake]
From PDG Stuart Batty:
1. Rotarians are already assisting with practical things:
· In association with Salvation Army delivering food to residents who have no power, water or sanitation.
· Linking families with families in other parts of New Zealand to enable them to spend some time away from the aftershocks.
· Rotarians from other parts of New Zealand sharing their caravans and mobile homes with people who have had their homes written off. This is a neighbouring Rotary District 9980 initiative.
· Working with missing persons to locate two Israeli tourists (family of a Israeli Rotarian) who have not been heard of since 30 minutes before the quake struck.
· Through NDRF (NGO Disaster Relief Forum) of which Rotary New Zealand World Community Service is a member, meeting regularly with forum members to plan strategy and cooperation.
2. Things you should also know:
· Some Rotarians and family members were injured in the quake. No known Family of Rotary fatalities at this stage.
· Many Rotarians have lost homes, contents, vehicles and businesses.
· Many Rotarians whose homes are repairable, currently do not have power, water or sanitation. Some have moved in with relatives or friends temporarily.
· Some Rotarians' businesses will be unable to recover plant, stock and data from their premises or will be prevented from access due to damage to other premises in the vicinity.
· The authorities responsible for the Earthquake recovery have requested that donations in kind or non cash items NOT be sent to Christchurch.
· The New Zealand Government, local agencies and NGOs have sufficient emergency and second phase supplies for the ongoing needs of the community that can be acquired in New Zealand.