Wellington fundraiser and public meeting on post-quake organising in Christchurch

Press release
Thursday 7th April 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE USE

A public meeting will be held on Friday 8th April, 7pm at Thistle Hall, cnr Cuba St and Arthur Sts, Wellington. Speakers will discuss some of the community responses to the devastating Christchurch earthquake. Two speakers from Christchurch will speak on the impact of the earthquake on workers and the poorest communities in Christchurch, and some of the positive grassroots organising that took place amongst these communities in the hours, days and weeks following the earthquake. A speaker from Women's Refuge will look at how Christchurch refuges have coped with the rise in domestic violence in the aftermath of the shock.

The meeting will also serve as a fundraiser for the Christchurch Women's Refuge Earthquake Appeal and Beyond Resistance to support the valuable work both organisations are doing.

Allister Dietschin from Beyond Resistance will talk about the work that his group was involved with in the Linwood and Avonside suburbs, providing food, water and gas to hard-hit communities. He will also talk about likely challenges that working class communities will face during the rebuilding phase.

Matt Jones from Unite Union will discuss the situation for workers in Christchurch. After the earthquake in September, Unite organised protests to pressure employers who were refusing to pay workers. Now, many thousands of people are out of work in Christchurch (some temporarily, others permanently) and Matt will talk about the issues they face.

Ros Houghton from Women’s Refuge will explain some of the challenges faced by Women’s Refuge in Christchurch after the earthquake, in which much of their local resources were destroyed. She will talk about the work that Refuge is doing to support women and children who have affected by sharp increase in domestic violence since the earthquake.

The meeting has been organised by a group of Christchurch people living in Wellington. There will be a cake sale and a raffle to raise funds.

Media are invited to attend the meeting.

ENDS

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