Relationship Services Whakawhanaungatanga is deeply distressed about the situation regarding its staff who were on the fifth floor of the CTV building at the time of yesterday’s earthquake, Chief Executive Jeff Sanders says.

“We can confirm that one staff member is still unaccounted for. However, we are relieved to report that the remaining 14 staff and our clients all escaped the building but have suffered varying degrees of injuries.

“We are very grateful to the people who helped rescue our staff.

“We are now working to re-establish a Christchurch base and are grateful for the support of partner agencies in helping us find a suitable location.

“Our staff have been very heartened by the response from Government, partner agencies, our friends and clients who have been sending in their messages of support since yesterday’s quake.

“Relationship Services Whakawhanaungatanga is a national organisation and has been able to mobilise a response for victims of the earthquake. In the first instance this will be a telephone counselling service. The service can be reached by calling:

• our Christchurch number (03) 366 8804
• 0800 RELATE number – 0800 735 283
• or our national office number (04) 472 8798.

“A team of experienced counsellors, including trauma specialists, is being gathered to provide a face to face counselling service for Christchurch people. We aim to have that up and running within the next few days,” Mr Sanders says.

ENDS

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