It is difficult to appreciate the impact of the Christchurch earthquake from here. Live is normal, the busses are running, there is water and power and we all still go to school and work.
The pictures in newspapers and tv, as well as the personal interest stories still fail to impart the real effect for those affected. It still feels unreal, in that the scenes you see are ones one usually associates with other parts of the world.
Today there was a national 2 minutes silence. I listened to a trumpeter play “Amazing Grace” in the park across the road, while Eleanor went to the steps of Parliament, where they sang the National Anthem.
Work is involved in ensuring Pacific people in Christchurch receive all the appropriate messages and access the services. So it is a lot of work for those in the communication team in particular.
There is a long way to go for those in Christchurch.
