Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Our Te Karere crew is in Christchurch
to bring us the latest updates.
Soon we will cross live to Irena Smith
who also has a report on the assistance being provided
by a local marae.
But first we cross live to Christchurch to Roihana Nuri
who has the latest news.
I'm outside the search and rescue headquarters,
which is the main hub in the central city area.
Across there, is the Forsyth Barr building.
Before the quake it was 17 storeys, now it has been left in ruins.
We met a Maori who has worked there for the past five years.
He was fortunate to make it out of this disaster alive.
Ihaka Rongonui of Tuwharetoa was trapped
on the 10th floor of this building in the central city for five hours.
The Forsyth Barr building is 17 storeys
and caters for a number of businesses.
Ihaka was in his office when the quake struck.
They waited five hours before help arrived.
This is footage Ihaka shot
while he was in the crane being lifted to safety.
Out of fear and irritation the Rongonui family
abandoned their home in Christchurch this morning.
They have hit the road and making their way to Palmerston North.
They aren't sure if they will return.
They are returning to their home to recoup and recover
from this devastating event.
Police are now using new processes for the media. Why?
It was very difficult to get here.
It took about 30 minutes to get into this area.
I was told by a police officer
that I would pass four police check points
but that I was to come straight here.
I stayed on track,
because they said they are arresting all those found in the central area.
Just take off your reporter's hat for a minute.
You lived in Christchurch for six years.
What was going through your hear when you arrived there?
I was shocked. It looked nothing like the Christchurch I remembered.
Houses and buildings had collapsed, the streets were strewn with debris.
It is difficult to describe in words the carnage in this area.
That's why I say it's not the Christchurch I remember.
Roihana Nuri, thank you for that report. We will return to you later.
We will now return to Roihana Nuri in Christchurch.
With me now is Piki Thomas.
He is the national Maori spokesman for the NZ Fire Service.
What's the latest updates?
Search and rescue continues.
Although it has been said that those trapped inside have all died,
the NZ Fire Service will continue to search for survivors.
That's what we are doing now -
working together to find the survivors inside these buildings.
What's the feeling amongst the rescuers
as they carry out this heavy duty?
There are many thoughts, many highs and lows.
When someone is found spirits begin to rise.
We are still getting over the shock of the quake,
so we are following our procedures
and trying to fulfil our role of searching for survivors.
We are searching for people, both dead and alive.
You were in the thick of the rubble. How was that for you?
It may look a little different on TV,
but there is a feeling of sadness there.
Maori know very well, the burden death can bring.
No doubt there is that feeling surrounding that area.
There is a different feeling when you go there.
What has been the good news
or the inspirational stories you have heard or seen there?
The best thing we've seen here
is the cooperation between the NZ volunteers
and the volunteers from overseas, from Australia, England, China.
There are eight nations represented there.
Is this more difficult
than the smaller scale quakes felt recently in NZ?
We think it is the same.
The same tasks must be don't, but just on a larger scale.
So this time with the number of buildings that have collapsed
we need a lot more people to help.
That's why we need overseas help this time.
That's the difference and why we have volunteers from overseas
and why we are working together.
100 people or so are still buried beneath the rubble here.
What do you say to them?
We are still searching.
The NZ Fire Service will continue to search
for those trapped in the buildings.
We will follow our department procedures
and find these missing people.
We must continue thinking positively and do what we can.
If not, then no doubt we will all regret it.
Piki Thomas, thank you for your time and good luck with the search.
This is the calibre of people
working to resuscitate the heart of Christchurch.
Thank you both for that report.