Christchurch Earthquake

The MacDiarmid institute would like to extend to our colleagues based in Christchurch our love and support in this time of tragedy.

We understand from our Director, Richard Blaikie, that everyone was accounted for at Canterbury University, and there were only minor injuries.

From the Director:

You will know of our most recent earthquake in Christchurch and its severe effects. This is a much more damaging event than the initial September quake, and most of our people will be concentrating their time and energy on their families and home situations for the next few days, myself included.

Our immediate concern is for the safety and wellbeing of all of our people, their families, friends and colleagues. But any roll call of the Institute will take place through our Departmental and University channels first, so we will not be able to update you on our situation immediately. We know that you will be thinking of us and will be willing to help in any tangible way when you can.

In the mean time, it is best if Institute matters are handled from our Wellington centre, and I have asked Shaun, Emily and Sarah to take over the day to day operations for now.

Richard

Updates to MacDiarmid Institute staff will be distributed by e-mail as soon as we have any information to hand. For enquiries or messages of support - please contact the Institute office at Victoria University of Wellington in the first instance:

Tel: +64-4-463 5950
Fax: +64-4-463 5237

Email: MacDiarmid-Institute@vuw.ac.nz

Mail to:
Victoria University of Wellington
PO Box 600
Wellington 6140, New Zealand

We understand that Air New Zealand have offered flights to and from Christchurch for $50 for a limited time, please check their website: www.airnewzealand.co.nz

If you would like to make a donation to the Red Cross you can do so here: www.redcross.org.nz

Messages of Support

From Steve Thompson, Chair of the Board:

This is about the people first of all. At this stage we do not have news of all MacDiarmid people, but we hope and pray that all are unscathed. The news tells of the absolutely camaraderie and indomitable spirit of Cantabrians as you begin again the work of rebuilding your lives. It's our job to join you in that spirit and give you every support we can over the coming months. Aftershocks since September have already rubbed nerves raw, and more must now be expected. Restoring a regular routine will now be part of that rebuilding process - a challenge that I know every member of the Institute will rise to. Each of us will do whatever it takes!

From MacDiarmid Community:

We have had many generous offers to provide temporary accommodation from outside Christchurch for our staff and students. If you would like to take up the offer of some temporary accommodation in Wellington or elsewhere, or if you have a bed to offer, please get in touch with Sarah (Tel: 04 463 6501).

In Wellington, we also believe we will be able to provide temporary desk space for people for an extended period. We realise that desk space is not going to be an immediate priority for those in Christchurch but it may be useful to factor this into any planning you may be doing for the months ahead. We are also likely to be able to offer temporary lab space in some circumstances.

From Simon Brown, Update

I'm sure others here in Chch will join me in thanking all those who have offered accommodation and other support. I think that many Chch people will, like me, be here for a few more days at least before making decisions to move out of the town or not.

While not wanting to downplay the seriousness of the situation, I thought perhaps I could provide a small positive note, by saying that on Thursday afternoon I made a long circuit of the city on my bike - along the north side of the city centre, along the Avon, through Linwood to the estuary and back to the University along the south side of the city centre - and while I've obviously not been to the worst affected areas I must say I'm quite relieved to see that houses over much of the city are intact. There are some terribly badly damaged sections of road and very occasionally houses are destroyed, but the vast majority of roads and houses appear OK.

I think the biggest concern over the next few weeks is going to be access to water and the state of the sewerage system. It’s obviously not clear yet how long it is going to take to get back to some kind of normalcy, but I fear it will be at least weeks.

Roger Reeves (Head of the Department of Physics and Astronomy) has circulated an email saying that there are no known casualties among members of the department - hopefully it stays that way. Many of us were in the Rutherford (Physics and Chemistry) building on campus when the earthquake happened - I was on a Skype call with Vladimir to Australia and I was under my desk before my brain engaged, realised that the line was dead, and I stopped talking! - and we all walked out of the building unscathed. My initial impression was that the building suffered no more damage than it did in September i.e. that there is no structural damage. I understand that there is water damage from broken pipes again, but hopefully, as in September, the power was off before the water arrived and so the actual damage to equipment won't be too bad.

A message from IZON

Izon is back working and all staff are safe and well. We also have some spare lab space and wireless internet if anyone wants to come and work here till their own premises is back up and running.

Quake Escape

Welcome to Quake Escape. This site is dedicated to helping victims of the latest Christchurch earthquake find temporary accommodation in this time of need.