MELBOURNE, Feb. 22 /Medianet International-AsiaNet/ --

A significant earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale has occurred in Christchurch late this morning.

Christchurch International Airport is presently closed.

Jetstar wishes to advise that a result of this event, our domestic and trans-Tasman international services to and from Christchurch have been suspended for the remainder of today (Tuesday 22 February) until further notice.

Jetstar New Zealand services this afternoon to/from Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown are also presently affected and will not operate until further notice due to air traffic control.

The safety of our passengers and our people is Jetstar's number one priority at this time.

Jetstar is working closely with New Zealand airport authorities regarding the status of safe flying operations for Christchurch and our remaining New Zealand airports.

Jetstar will soon issue a customer advisory offering flexible fare arrangements for travel.

Jetstar.com will be regularly updated with the latest information, including the recommencement of services.

Beyond updates at Jetstar.com, our customers with near travel requirements to, from or within New Zealand on our low fare services can call the Jetstar Contact Centre directly:
+ 0800 800 995 within New Zealand
131 538 within Australia

An updated media advisory will be issued later today regarding the status of Jetstar’s NZ operations.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On Failures Of Care For Those With Mental Disabilities

Hard to imagine a more disturbing insight into the treatment of the vulnerable than the Health Ministry report on Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau. The Ministry has found that the country’s only kaupapa Maori intellectual disability residential care provider has been “seriously dysfunctional.”

The ministry says the business has failed to recruit and retain quality staff – and says the kaimahi (caregivers) that have been employed are seriously unsuitable for the job, lacking basic knowledge. But Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau doesn’t get all the blame. The report says there’s a significant gap under disability laws to ensure there’s oversight by qualified clinical professionals. More>>