As people slowly return to Christchurch, the real impact of the earthquake is being felt by the region: with 166 people confirmed dead and many seriously injured, this quake has had a huge impact on the community. Sanitarium and ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency) have been actively involved in relief efforts since the earthquake occurred on 22 February. The February earthquake, measuring 6.3, has been followed by hundreds of aftershocks making recovery attempts difficult. The quake has left a lot of people without homes, water, food, supplies and power. The damage to buildings has been extensive; this is especially prevalent in the city centre and eastern suburbs.
The Sanitarium factory in Christchurch was a focal point during the response effort. The factory immediately became a triage centre with ambulances, St John’s workers and the New Zealand army congregating on-site. Water pipes were damaged all across Christchurch but Sanitarium was able to supply fresh water from our onsite bore which was unaffected in the quake. With our factory and stock undamaged we immediately started supplying and distributing Sanitarium products and fresh water to those in need.
“Many of our staff were on site the very next day to assist in cleanup, making sure phone calls are answered, directing visitors and emergency workers on site, ensuring water is restored, driving forklifts, etc,” said Sanitarium NZ General Manager Pierre van Heerden.
Following the earthquake, Pierre flew to Christchurch to oversee Sanitarium’s response efforts, helping those in need with the support of Sanitarium’s Corporate Chaplain Alvin Schick. The pair used their rental cars to distribute food and water over the next few days, as roads were too badly damaged to be used by trucks. The Christchurch site immediately shut down production so employees could recover and assist family and friends as well as help in the rescue, clean-up and aid effort. Sanitarium became a distribution centre where other companies could drop off food, drinks and other supplies that Sanitarium employees then delivered out into the communities.
The Adventist Disaster Relief Agency (ADRA) moved onto the Sanitarium site and set up there so they could continue to support the community. Sanitarium is still distributing water and food through ADRA to those in need.
“An aspect that really stood out to me while talking to community members in Aranui is how much we all take for granted,” Pierre said. “One woman said to me that wealth is no longer measured in terms of money - the wealthy are now those who have power, water and sewerage connections at home. She said that you are a real king if you have all three, and very wealthy if you have one or two. It certainly made me think again of all the things we take for granted on a daily basis – life, health, work, family, power, water. We all have a lot to be thankful for.”
“The lives of many in Christchurch have been changed forever but as a company we have been able to make a big difference in the lives of many people during this period. Thank you once again for your diligent work that assists us in doing good work for the communities we operate in.”
For more information, or to donate to the ADRA New Zealand’s Christchurch Earthquake Appeal , visit www.adra.org.nz .