Amazing Race host helps raise $200k for Christchurch

Former Cantabrian and Amazing Race host Phil Keoghan has helped raise $200,000 at a Christchurch earthquake fundraiser held at the New Zealand Embassy in Washington, DC.

Keoghan, who was born near Christchurch, told the black tie gala dinner on Thursday night, US time, that the city was open for business following the February 22 earthquake, and thanked Americans for their support.

Guest speaker former US Coast Guard commandant Admiral Thad Allen, who was in Christchurch when the 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck, praised New Zealand's ability to recover from the disaster and spoke of his own experience.

Admiral Allen was one of over 50 senior American political, military and business leaders attending the US-NZ Partnership Forum in the city when the deadly quake struck killing an estimated 181 people.

New Zealand Ambassador to the US, Mike Moore, also attended the dinner.

- NZPA