The state of emergency has been lifted in Christchurch City and the Waimakariri district in New Zealand’s South Island, 12 days after a massive earthquake savaged the area.
Christchurch mayor Bob Parker told the New Zealand Press Association (NZPA), “We are now moving from a state of emergency to a state of urgency.”
In the early hours of Sept. 4, the 7.1 earthquake ravaged roads and cause extensive damage in the main city centre and outlying suburbs. It also destroyed over 100 houses and left at least 300 others badly damaged in Kaiapoi, 17 km from Christchurch.
“We will be operating under the new powers brought in under the Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Bill, but transferring from a civil defence situation and back closer to business as usual.”
“This doesn’t change the fact that many people are still facing great difficulties,” Mayor Parker told NZPA.
Waimakariri Mayor Ron Keating said there was still a lot of work ahead of the community.
“Not only is there months of work ahead of us to reinstate crumbled infrastructure, but as a community we also need to be conscious of the tough times ahead for the dozens of residents who still have to deal with the loss of their homes,” he told NZPA. “We will all need to do what we can to support them through it.”
Mr Keating called for patience in the community, saying it will take years for the region to fully recover.
Mr Keating thanked the government and surrounding councils for their assistance over the time since the quake hit, but said it will be the community itself that will drive reparations.
“Much of the responsibility for getting our own lives back on track now lies with us”.
The Waimakariri region was one of the three worst hit districts from the quake, which saw roads cracked open, buildings destroyed, and sewerage and electricity lines disrupted through the Canterbury region of the South Island.
The last two regions still under a state of emergency are expected to lift them today after a special Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Commission, is put in place, TV New Zealand reported.
Christchurch mayor Bob Parker told the New Zealand Press Association (NZPA), “We are now moving from a state of emergency to a state of urgency.”
In the early hours of Sept. 4, the 7.1 earthquake ravaged roads and cause extensive damage in the main city centre and outlying suburbs. It also destroyed over 100 houses and left at least 300 others badly damaged in Kaiapoi, 17 km from Christchurch.
“We will be operating under the new powers brought in under the Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Bill, but transferring from a civil defence situation and back closer to business as usual.”
“This doesn’t change the fact that many people are still facing great difficulties,” Mayor Parker told NZPA.
Waimakariri Mayor Ron Keating said there was still a lot of work ahead of the community.
“Not only is there months of work ahead of us to reinstate crumbled infrastructure, but as a community we also need to be conscious of the tough times ahead for the dozens of residents who still have to deal with the loss of their homes,” he told NZPA. “We will all need to do what we can to support them through it.”
Mr Keating called for patience in the community, saying it will take years for the region to fully recover.
Mr Keating thanked the government and surrounding councils for their assistance over the time since the quake hit, but said it will be the community itself that will drive reparations.
“Much of the responsibility for getting our own lives back on track now lies with us”.
The Waimakariri region was one of the three worst hit districts from the quake, which saw roads cracked open, buildings destroyed, and sewerage and electricity lines disrupted through the Canterbury region of the South Island.
The last two regions still under a state of emergency are expected to lift them today after a special Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Commission, is put in place, TV New Zealand reported.
