$3.5m in donations pour into relief funds to assist families

Greymouth Mayor Tony Kokshoorn. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand people and businesses have donated more than $3.5 million to support the families of the 29 miners killed and others affected by the Pike River mine disaster.

The Grey District Council on Thursday set up the Pike River Relief Fund Trust, and the miners' union is also collecting.

By last night the council trust had received more than $2 million,"which can only be described as humbling", Grey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn said.

That included more than $100,000 received from the "text to donate" number 306.

"There have been some special messages accompanying the donations, which have been made available for the families' viewing," Mr Kokshoorn said.

The trust would give financial support to those who suffer financial hardship as a direct result of the tragedy, and the nature of this support would become more apparent as time progresses, he said.

Westpac Bank was administering the fund and said it was accepting donations at its branches, as were the BNZ, ANZ and the National Bank.

Westpac has given $2000 in direct support to each of the families of the 29 miners killed, and has made a $50,000 donation to the fund.

The BNZ and ANZ banks have each donated $100,000.

An ANZ spokeswoman said that in response to requests, the bank planned to accept donations through its Australian branch network.

The Pike River Coal company has established its own Pike River Miners' Relief Fund with a $500,000 donation, matched by the same amount from its main shareholder, New Zealand Oil and Gas.

The Engineering, Printing & Manufacturing Union yesterday said it too was setting up a fund for the families affected by the tragedy.

Half of the money collected by the EPMU Pike River Miners Family Support Trust would go to the Grey District Council's fund, and half would be used to establish a dedicated fund for the education of the children of those killed.

HOW TO DONATE

EPMU PIKE RIVER MINERS FAMILIES SUPPORT TRUST
Bank: Kiwibank branches
Direct credit: 38-9011-0165987-00

THE PIKE RIVER RELIEF FUND
Bank: Westpac, ANZ, National Bank, or BNZ branches
Credit: 03-0846-0167234-00
Phone: Text 306 to donate $3 automatically
Post: Grey District Council, PO Box 382, Greymouth 7840
Online: givealittle.co.nz/cause/pikeriver

PARENTS CENTRES NEW ZEALAND FUND (for families of miners who were soon to be fathers or had small children)
Direct credit: 12-3142-0161284-01
Post: Pike Miners' Relief Fund, PO Box 2793, Wellington

BANK FUNDS
Donations at branches or by direct credit
ANZ: 01-1841-0052483-00
BNZ: 02-0844-0074501-00
ASB: 12-3205-0146728-00
National Bank: 06-0507-0213937-00
Australian ANZ (for Australian donations only): 013265-2687-73856.

SUPERMARKETS
Countdown, Woolworths and Foodtown are collecting loose change or adding a donation to grocery bills at the checkout.