Hon Murray McCully
Minister of Foreign Affairs

25 February 2011

Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully today welcomed specialist personnel from China who arrived in New Zealand this morning to strengthen the rescue and recovery operation following the devastating earthquake.

"We are very grateful for the contribution provided by our friends from China, the US, and the UK who have arrived in the past 12 hours. Each will provide a valuable boost to the efforts by New Zealand and international rescue workers in Christchurch," says Mr McCully.

This will bring the total international search and rescue personnel in New Zealand to over 350 from seven international contributors.

"The Government continues to receive generous offers of specialist assistance from our international partners. These offers are under constant assessment based on the needs on the ground," says Mr McCully.

Arrived late yesterday:
From Australia: A 75-bed medical field hospital arrived in Christchurch at 3:20pm on 24 February on a RAAF C17 and is established at Cowles Stadium in the southeast of the city. This is an in-patient facility and will draw on New Zealand and Australian medical personnel already on the ground.
323 Australian police have been requested by NZ police to help with security cordon work. At midnight 24 February an advance party of three Australian police arrived in Wellington and were assigned NZ Police liaison officers then transferred to Christchurch today.

From Singapore: A urban search and rescue team of 55 personnel including four dogs arrived in Christchurch on 24 February and has begun work.

Arrived this morning:
From USA: An urban search and rescue team of 80 personnel plus 40 tonnes of equipment arrived at 2:20am in Christchurch and has set up base in Latimer Square.

From the UK: The first party of a 55-strong urban search and rescue team has arrived and the remainder is due to arrive at 12:20pm today. This team will establish its base in Latimer Square.

From China: A team of 10 specialist personnel and equipment arrived at 05:45 this morning in Auckland and will transfer to Christchurch later today.

ENDS

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