Auckland City Council has already offered its services to Christchurch, following the devastating earthquake today.
 
Auckland Mayor Len Brown said the Council was discussing a number of options with officers, including the provision of road and water engineering support, civil defence and specialists in building consents.

 

“Auckland Council will do everything it can to help as the people of Christchurch pick up the pieces,” he said.

 

“In the meantime, our thoughts and our prayers are with you."

 

The Auckland Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC) has also been activated and was being staffed by a team of Civil Defence staff and Auckland Council volunteers.

 

This team was providing support to the National Crisis Management Centre (Wellington) and is on standby to send teams of support workers and experts to Christchurch if requested.

 

“Our role is to provide Christchurch and the people of Canterbury with whatever support they need, for as long as they need it,” Group Controller Harry O’Rourke said.

 

“Teams are on standby to assist with advice; technical experts like building inspectors and engineers; roading and transport engineers; and search and rescue teams,” he says.

 

The following action has already been taken by the ECC: Auckland-based National Incident Management Team is on stand-by awaiting further instructions; Council building inspectors are ready to deploy and additional inspectors are being sourced; two response teams of 10 Civil Defence volunteers per team (Auckland Council officers) are standing by; and Auckland Fire Service, Police, District Heath Boards and Lifelines services are all assessing their capacity to provide support and placing teams on standby.

 

The deadly earthquake measured 6.3 on the Richter scale and struck the city at about 12:51pm New Zealand time.