Editorial: Lucky to live here in the Bay

Some of the areas of Christchurch after the earthquake resembled scenes from disaster movies.

The Bay of Plenty really is an awesome place to live.

I can say this with renewed enthusiasm after going for a short trip away.

I was lucky enough to go and visit family in quake-ravaged Christchurch. We were able to look around the central city and visit some of the red-zoned areas. It reminded me of a scene out of a movie.

Despite the first earthquake hitting Christchurch four years ago, the place is full of empty sections where there used to be houses, whole subdivisions and suburbs fenced off. Derelict houses, deemed unsafe and bumpy roads. It is like a deserted city. The city centre is empty. It is as if it has become a construction site. Shipping containers prop up the facades of old buildings to prevent them from falling.

Houses still perch perilously on the top of cliffs in Sumner.

On the other hand, the community has come together to make the most of the awful situation. The attitude and resilience of the people is inspiring.

They have banded together and, like a phoenix, they are emerging from the ashes of their once thriving city.

Events like this make us thankful we were not in the danger zone.

This week, this newspaper spoke to a former Tauranga woman living in the Philippines, who says she "got off lightly" when Typhoon Hagupit hit.

Pauline Curtis-Smith has been living in Calapan City for the past 11 years.

She set up Ruel Foundation, a Christian children's charity organisation formed in 2000 to provide free medical aid to children living in remote areas in developing nations.

At least 21 people are known to have died as a result of the typhoon.

Last year, more than 7000 died after Typhoon Haiyan left mass destruction in its wake.

The 62-year-old moved from Tauranga to the third-world country when she saw the need to provide basic medical care.

I know several Bay people who have moved to Christchurch to help with the rebuild.

Seeing the aftermath of the damage caused by this natural disaster really has put into perspective just how this could happen to anyone - and how I hope people come to our aid if we ever need it.