Christchurch: Emergency lifted but food parcels in demand

Photo / Simon Baker.

Almost ten weeks on from February's deadly earthquake in Christchurch, the national state of emergency has been lifted.

The state of emergency expired at 11.59pm last night and the recovery process has been handed over to the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (Cera).

"While the state of national emergency has been lifted, the Government remains committed to the rebuild and recovery of Christchurch city and Cera will lead that work," Civil Defence Minister John Carter said.

"I have been proud to witness the Civil Defence response to this earthquake and to see the great community spirit shown by New Zealanders not only in Canterbury, but around the country and the world. We are a nation that rallies in times of need."

Mr Carter also thanked overseas personnel who came to help with in the immediate aftermath of the quake.

"New Zealand is lucky to have so many good friends."

More than 180 people are thought to have died in the earthquake, which severely damaged hundreds of buildings. Parts of the CBD remain cordoned off.

The state of national emergency in New Zealand was declared on February 23.

It was the first to be declared under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 and was repeatedly extended for nearly 10 weeks.

Meanwhile, the Salvation Army says the need for food parcels has increased in the past year, with the earthquake increasing demand by more than 20 per cent.

Excluding its work in Christchurch, Salvation Army welfare centres distributed 50,675 food parcels to 26,677 families and individuals in the year to March 31, 2011 - a 3.25 per cent increase in food parcels, and 7.25 per cent rise in families receiving the parcels.

With Christchurch added to the equation there was an increase in demand for food parcels of 21 per cent - or 62,317 food parcels in the year to the end of March 2011.

"Post-earthquake Christchurch is the challenge of our time, but our great concern now is that we don't lose sight of those families across the country who are struggling to get by in the face of continuing harsh economic times," Salvation Army fundraising head Major Robbie Ross said.

As Christchurch residents moved to other parts of the country there was an increase in demand for Salvation Army's support services, including budgeting services, counselling, and emergency housing.

Salvation Army head of welfare services Major Pam Waugh said continuing high unemployment for young adults and the semi-skilled, and rising living costs were forcing more people to seek help around New Zealand.

"Generally, we're seeing more low-income working families seeking assistance as their hours are cut or they are retrenched, and some centres are seeing higher numbers of superannuates," she says.

The number of families and individuals seeking assistance from The Salvation Army for the first time, climbed 12.6 per cent to 17,000 in the year to March, she said.

- NZPA