Sending out hugs to Christchurch-based Kiwis

I can't even imagine what it's like for people who have missing loved ones. Keeping all of you in my thoughts.

Thanks for your thoughts everyone.

Me and my family are all safe so we have been very lucky. I work in the CBD but had actually gone to my sisters in the inner suburbs for lunch (it was my Dad's birthday). They had bad liquefaction but no new structural damage (they were still living in their house even though it was probably already going to have to be pulled down from the September earthquake). We managed to get one of their cars out before before the silt got too bad. I had my bike so made my way home (about 3km). Had to get off and walk in some places because the roads were so bad.
fortunately my partner had the day off - and was sitting out on the deck with the transistor radio going. There has been at least one death in his office building so I am very grateful that he is safe.
There is going to be a lot of bad news in the next few days as the names of the dead are released.

Wow... thanks for the update Kiwigirl! Glad to hear you and yours are all ok...

Glad you are ok Kiwi Girl. I live about 20mins out of Chch & its pretty surreal

Stay safe, kiwigirl. I guess you have no choice but to stay in Christchurch?

A couple of our close friends from town went down to NZ with their bikes to do an organized tour and vacation for 4 weeks. They were in ChCh when the quake hit. They must have been in a hotel right in the main square. They had pics and video on FB of the cathedral ruins.

They are fine but they said they had to leave NZ with only the clothes on their back. They are on their way to Sydney right now, flying back to Colorado in a few days. They lost their 2 new custom Seven touring bikes and everything else, including their passports.

There was a local news story that another local couple (from a town 70 miles away, here that is local) was also in ChCh, but I don't know them.

Surly-there are folks from round the world that have that same issue. Quite a few Aussies have been given special entrance back to Australia as they too lost thier passports amongst other things in the quake.

Thankfully the folks we know in Christchurch or that still have family there, are ok. It doesn't make it any better.

I really hope that some of the RWC matches will be held in Christchurch as it wouldn't be fair to abandon them. The super 15 match btwn the hurricanes & the crusaders has been cancelled this weekend out of respect. (The Crusaders lost one of thier board members)

Bob Parker(Cch Mayor) and the Coroner (can't remember her name) are two amazing folk. They've acted with compassion and honesty these past few days similar to what we saw from Anna Bligh. The coroner said yesterday (from what I remember)" As a mother and grandmother, I can assure you that each body is being looked after & is not alone. Please remember that each family & whanau will be contacted BUT when we KNOW we have the right person. We need to get this right."

What hit home to my dear was seeing some of the rubble from the Univ of Canterbury..

So glad to hear you and your partner are ok NZKiwigirl! I was especially worried about him, so am glad to know he had the day off. I found out yesterday that a friend I'd thought was in Christchurch when the quake hit was actually in the Abel Tasman national park without cell phone reception. It was a big relief when she was finally able to call to let everyone know she was ok. My manager is down in Christchurch trying to convince her mother to come back to Wellington with her. My husband's head office in Madras St has been destroyed, along with their distribution centre, and they don't know whether a container of new stock on the port is still ok. High end home theatre equipment doesn't deal well with a lot of shaking! However although our friends and families have houses that are damaged, all are alive and more or less well. For that we are very thankful.

If any of you out there around the world want to help we have set up a virtual charity run for the weekend of 12 to 13 March. We're also suggesting cyclists go for a ride. We're gaining momentum and donations are coming in from all around the world. All donations go to the Red Cross fund. Our blog is here:

http://run4chch.wordpress.com/

We're also on Twitter - @run4chch and #run4chch

Thanks!
Pip