Canterbury June earthquake - Farmy Army clarification

Some media have published Federated Farmers contact details for Christchurch residents to call. While Federated Farmers has made an offer to Christchurch City Council, the Farmy Army cannot be activated until Christchurch City Council has made a full assessment.

"Unlike the February earthquake, there's a large volume of surface water as the earthquakes coincided with high tide," says John Hartnell, Federated Farmers Earthquake spokesperson.

"While Federated Farmers initiated contact with Christchurch City Council to see if we may be needed, the Council needs to do a full assessment of bridges and roads well before volunteers may be requested.

"As people will have seen on television, liquefaction is combined with surface water creating new challenges.

"That's why residents must contact Christchurch City Council and not Federated Farmers.

"It's also vital people stay out of affected areas in Christchurch unless it is an emergency.

"If you are a farmer affected by the latest earthquake then make contact via 0800 FARMING," Mr Hartnell concluded.

Other notes:

§ Federated Farmers Christchurch Office has reopened

§ An initial assessment of farms on Banks Peninsula indicates few issues to date

§ Power appears to be problematic east of Diamond Harbour and Purau way.

© Scoop Media