28/02/2011
Launched by Prime Minister John Key on 27 February 2011, the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust is the official, global fundraiser for the recovery effort for Christchurch and the Canterbury region. The Appeal will help rebuild those things that are at the heart of Christchurch communities, the places and services that make a city worth living in.
So far, immediate efforts in Christchurch have focused on the human tragedy and emergency relief. The response from the Civil Defence and community action and support groups has been fantastic. Equally, the central Government is committed to large-scale infrastructure rebuild, which includes roads, bridges, water, and other core services. The Christchurch Earthquake Appeal will complement emergency support provided by other charitable agencies, and core government responsibilities.
When the earthquake struck Canterbury, community facilities which took decades of fundraising to put in place, such as sports fields, school equipment, and community buildings, galleries, historic buildings, and arts centres, were ruined within hours. If we want to put a city back together, we need to put its communities back together too.
