Red and Black day to support Christchurch

Margot Glaser-Brown, Nicky McCool, 17, Marenke Van Maanen, 17, Chennoah Walford, 17, Rachelle Earwaker, 16, and Ann Marie Wilson of Tauranga Girl's College dressed in red and black to support the earthquake appeal. Photo / Joel Ford

New Zealanders are being urged to wear the red and black colours of Canterbury tomorrow to show support for the people of Christchurch.

National Red and Black Day has been organised by Hamilton-based NZ Transport Agency senior communications advisor Kara Fleming as way for the country to show solidarity and support for Christchurch.

"So many of us have felt helpless watching the devastation in Christchurch from far away, and people really want to do something tangible and visible to show their love and support for their fellow Kiwis."

Everyone wearing red and black tomorrow is also being urged to make a donation to the New Zealand Red Cross 2011 Earthquake Appeal, at www.redcross.org.nz/donate.

"We've already got Air New Zealand, BNZ Bank, NZ Post, Kiwibank and the Body Shop on board, the Ministry of Education is asking all schools to spread the word, and with the power of social media we're getting more businesses coming on board every few minutes. We've even been contacted by schools in Australia and Canada with expat Kiwi students to say they are getting behind it."

The ultimate goal of Red and Black Day is to raise as much as possible for the Red Cross Earthquake Appeal, and people are being encouraged to use tomorrow as a platform to arrange other fundraising efforts at their own workplaces and schools.

For more information go to facebook.com/nationalredandblackday or twitter.com/redandblackday

- NZPA