Wheelbarrows needed in Christchurch - volunteers

A wheelie big problem is facing Christchurch's quake clean-up volunteers - there aren't enough wheelbarrows to go around.

Sam Johnson, who founded the thousands-strong Student Volunteer Army, said there were plenty of people to help clean up eastern suburbs hit hard by liquefaction, but there wasn't enough equipment to cart the debris around.

"We're desperately short of wheelbarrows - we're having a nationwide wheelbarrow appeal for commercial-grade wheelbarrows to be donated," he told NZPA.

"That's the biggest hindrance right now, is just not enough wheelbarrows to do the work."

A number of wheelbarrows had been sourced from a donor in Auckland, which a sponsor had agreed to ship to Christchurch. However, they were yet to arrive.

Mr Johnson said people who wanted to offer help could visit www.sva.org.nz.

- NZPA