Editorial: Tough choice to join Christchurch quake recovery

Practical, pragmatic, hard-working. These are terms that are commonly used in describing the classic Kiwi employee.
Nowhere would they be more aptly applied than to those who are helping in earthquake-devastated Christchurch.
In many cases their efforts are borne out of a desire to help rebuild the stricken southern city, but others find it a case of making ends meet. They have chosen to go where the work is so have packed their bags, kissed their families goodbye, bid farewell to friends and headed to the uncertainty of life and work in the devastated quake zone.
One of those people is Maadi Rewiri, who featured on yesterday's front page. Faced with a tough choice, he made the only call he felt he could: Move south to continue to support his family.
Clearly he is a man who has some great qualities, not least of which is his desire to keep working, and it is some feat to still be working in the building industry after more than 40 years. It is a sector known for peaks and troughs, so his ability to maintain employment through the downturns suggests something of his skills and adaptability.
But he is not alone. Others have made the hard call, too - a good number from our region.
It is hard to imagine what life must be like for them, firstly to be in the position of leaving home, but also facing the less-than-ideal conditions that await. At this time of year, it must be considerably bleak with freezing winter conditions and knowing that the the worst is yet to come. On top of that, there are the frequent and unpredictable aftershocks, and potentially dangerous work conditions amid the damaged buildings.
Reading the comments by Mr Rewiri, it's hard not to be impressed by his attitude. He is sympathetic to the plight of the people and you feel that is in some part motivation for the out-of-town workers in the southern centre; no matter how hard their lives may seem, their problems are small in comparison with the plight of those residents. Still, working like this is not for everyone, and the absence of their loved ones must put additional strain on families who will already be finding times tough.
We can only hope that this is but a temporary measure; that Christchurch rebounds, as does our own economy, and those workers who have made the move can return home, where they will be reunited with grateful families.
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