Quake Respite Shows Community Spirit At Its Best

A joint initiative by the Napier and Hastings councils to provide respite care to Cantabrians affected by the February 22 earthquake, has brought to the fore community spirit at its very best.

Staff from both councils have been humbled by the overwhelming generosity shown by the people of Hawke’s Bay, since the mayors proposal took off a week after the disaster. “We have heard some amazing stories of adversity from the people of Christchurch, but they have been able to overcome that to a certain extent while taking respite in Hawke’s Bay,” Napier Mayor Barbara Arnott says. “Our community has pulled together and offered more than a place to stay – they have offered anything and everything to make these people feel comfortable and safe.”

More than 1,000 individual offers of accommodation came in from Hawke’s Bay residents, while there were 434 requests for accommodation to accommodate almost 1,000 Christchurch residents. Businesses also chipped in offering free meals, accommodation and vouchers to many of the Bay’s tourist hotspots. Since the offer of free return flights to the region closed last Friday, offers of accommodation were still being taken up, albeit on a smaller scale, by people wanting a break from the devastation and aftershocks that continue to shake the city.

Heartfelt letters of thanks (along with many cakes and flowers!) have inundated both councils, from people who took up the offer of respite care, many of them expressing their delight in the ease of their travel arrangements, the big-heartedness of locals and the difference having a break has made to their lives. “Having had a break from the stress has made it easier to come back and continue on with daily life. The individuals who I spoke to (in Hawke’s Bay) were very helpful and nothing seemed a problem. This trip provided us with some pleasure during a stressful and frightening time,” one grateful Cantabrian says.

Another said “I just wanted to say a huge thank you for the opportunity. Like most Cantabrians, I've had a rough month with my house being significantly damaged as well as my work place. Going away for a few days was an amazing break and I loved my time in Hawke's Bay - I plan on returning in the future. The people of Hastings and Napier were amazing and I truly enjoyed my trip.”

Mayors Barbara Arnott and Lawrence Yule would like to thank Air New Zealand for making this initiative possible. “This wouldn’t have happened without Air New Zealand. They have been a great help and are to be commended for their superb support for such a worthy cause,” Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule says