I agree with Squirter on NZ gives more per capita than anyone else in the world when some bad thing happens overseas as well as in NZ. I stated this in another post. I remember the sad thing at a football match in England where 100 or so fans got killed in a crush at a game. Appeals were called for fund to help the widows and their children etc. We gave thousands. My thought was that if i got run over by a bus tomorrow no one even in NZ would get a fund up to help my wife. Now this one is close to home. A couple of Whitianga people went to Vanuatu a few months back and stayed on an outlining island. Think it has a French government. They saw the natives going down to stream to collect water every day. They asked about it and were told that they did have well in town but the pump had broken down about 18 years ago and didn't know how to fix it. The government wern't interested. Well this couple came back to Whitianga and told the story about it. As I am writing this, three plumbers from here are up in Vanuatu, paying their own way and have paid for parts out of their own pockets to fix the problem. One is a close friend of mine. Not only is it costing them the travel expenses but a week away from their own businesses. I just wonder that if some poor person in NZ with water pump Problem would have the French running out to here to fix it. "Yea Right" Cheers, Bazza.

Gidday

Bazza, if some poor bugger here had his water pump break down no bugger would even go out of town to help.

Should we no help our own people before we worry about any bugger overseas?

I think there are many many people in our communities who help each other and will go out of their way to assist someone in need. Recently a woman in Whangarei had her car mangled by some maniac - within 24 hours she had a replacement given by a local car firm and offers of cash from many others - all unknown to the woman. This is not an unusual story - what is unusual is the reporting of stuff like this by the media who prefer the sensationalist stuff that sells. And it works because people like you and me buy the papers, watch the tv news and listen to the radio. Also I think it is important to provide help for people in other parts of the world. We can only give so much so it is important that our foreign aid is targeted in a way that it actually makes a difference. There are many millions of dollars going out of nz for charitable work that doesnt appear to make enough of a difference but I don't have facts on this. Maybe I am just biased against christian organisations who collect money and send it to Africa.

"Maybe I am just biased against christian organisations who collect money and send it to Africa."

On the surface it appears that little change is being made to countries like Africa but what a sad place the world would be if Christian (and other organisations) didn't make the effort and people like you and me didn't put our hands in our pockets.

I think it's just the fact that these Christian organisations who help overseas communities have a high profile through television campaigns.

There are many, many Christian (and other) organisations and churches doing a lot of charitible work in our own communities. They do wonderful work but rarely get a mention.

"There are many, many Christian (and other) organisations and churches doing a lot of charitible work in our own communities. They do wonderful work but rarely get a mention."

True, but what we are talking about here at this time is "Overseas" aid coming INTO New zealand to help those in Christchurch!

There hasn't bee a single mention that I have heard of offers of money to help those affected to replace their houses etc. Only troops ie Naval personnel.

Actually, Tahi was commenting on Christian organisations that were collecting for countries like Africa, hence my response.

But getting to your point, Bryan, does aid coming into New Zealand have to be money? Right now we need men on the ground to clean up the streets of Christchurch.

At least the Yanks offered.

Yeah GG,

You are right, America did offer but I believe the offer was turned down albeit before the second shock when the cost doubled to 4 billion bucks.

Yeah I know dough is important but I probably think the shortage of trades people will play an even bigger part in as much as getting business, as well as the private sectors up and running/housed as quickly as possibe to a alleviate the devastating effect of people being homeless for a multitude of reasons, or business unable to service mortgages, again for the same reasons.

Cheers.

well the fire brigade has just arrive to remove me neighbours wall
they got all the gear, an look like they know what they're doin
they're bracin it off my wall , had to take the fence down

Is your place ok ocker or will you need repairs?

The retailers are complaining about little spending by the public.
No doubt people are waiting for their insurance pay out. Then there will be a buying boom for replacements.
Especially the building industry, we will be short of tradesman in other parts of the South Island, as the work will keep them busy for some time. These from out of town will need accomadation and food, so it pans out in the end.

no Bryan my place is ok , its summerhil stone veneer , but not a skerrick of damage
the old house on the other side of this damaged house , is ok as well , real strange

the wall in question , is one of them red brick sort of " Fire /Safety " walls that they made ya put up if you were real close to your boundary

hundreds of these walls have collapsed in and around CH CH

So much for the "Safety" part!

Good to see you came out of it OK!

I can't get over the piece on TV last night about the EQC making people pay out first then reimburse them, where the hell are people going to get the ready money from in the first place?

Also the @#$^%$@@ that looted the pore girl that was nearly killed when her brick wall fell into her bed.

I suppose it takes all kinds. I know where I would like to take THAT kind and what I would like to do to THEM!