New Zealanders and Expats in Saigon Mobilise to Sustain Recovery Efforts

One event begets another as organisers seek additional opportunities to do more

HO CHI MINH CITY (11 March 2011) — New Zealanders and expatriates in Vietnam have built on an initial burst of fundraising for Christchurch earthquake victims, netting an additional NZD 44,000 in a weekend event, and are plotting the moves on a 'Charity Sports Dinner' event that aims to increase the contribution.

By March 9, organisers in Ho Chi Minh City had generated more than NZD 130,000 for earthquake relief.

"So far from Christchurch, people are desperate to do something, to step up in a meaningful way", said Warrick Cleine, Chairman of the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Saigon. "Since we've experienced an outpouring of initiative from overwhelmed Kiwis, from Aussies and other expats and locals in Vietnam, we've decided to keep going, to keep fundraising. From here, each of the events will be tailored to a slightly different audience, and therefore donors."

At an emotionally charged charity auction and raffle held at the Caravelle Hotel last Thursday, expatriates raised approximately NZD 87,000 (USD 64,000). Nearly 500 supporters attended an event where New Zealand's Consul General in HCM City, Graham Sims, paid tribute to victims; the Mayor of Christchurch Bob Parker relayed a message by video; and New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key sent a message of support specifically for the fundraising initiatives in Vietnam.

"It was a brilliant representation," said Fiona Nichols, an Irish expat who has lived in Saigon for a number of years and who is married to a Kiwi. "I felt proud to be part of it".

The organisers boosted the Thursday evening tally by NZD 44,000 over the weekend with another raffle and a live auction at the 12th Annual New Zealand Wine & Food Festival in Saigon.

The success of these two events, and the speed with which the Kiwi and the international community rallied to the cause, was evidence of momentum,

"It's important to note, as well, that it's not just Kiwis who are driving this bus", said Mark Fraser, a Kiwi lawyer based in Saigon. "The Aussies have thrown a very supportive ANZAC spirited arm over the shoulder of the entire Kiwi community. Individual Brits, Americans and folks from all over Europe are doing what they can. No one is immune to disaster."

For some of those non-Kiwi expats, there was a personal connection to the Christchurch disaster.

"My former sales office was literally across the road from the CTV building and our office manager, Sally, was lucky to get out of our building and then saw the CTV building with many of her friends inside", said Andrew O'Regan, an Irish expat and Country Manager of BAT Vietnam, who was previously based in New Zealand. "We have many connections there and feel the pain of all Kiwis".

Phil Turner, a British national who has been active in the Vietnam oil and gas industry for more than 30 years, said "I am indeed pleased that it has been such a resounding success and that I was able to participate".

After the weekend event, the organisers began steering toward a Charity Sports Dinner where as yet to be identified speakers will set the stage for an auction of sports memorabilia from New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and elsewhere. They hope to attract a leading Kiwi sportsperson who would be willing to come up to Saigon to speak at the dinner.

They're also keen to auction off sporting memorabilia and are soliciting donated items for shipment to Vietnam.

"Ideally, we're keen to attract a Kiwi with an international profile, and who is an entertaining after dinner speaker, in order to pull more than just Kiwis to the Sports Dinner", said Vietnam-based New Zealand Consul General (and former All Black) Graham Sims.

There is also the potential to roll out similar Charity Sports Dinners across other parts of Asia through the support of other Kiwi Chambers of Commerce around the region.

Saigon's efforts to generate relief for Christchurch is remarkable, given Vietnam's own recent travails, but a testament as well to the advance of prosperity into the world's deeper pockets.

"It's funny," said Christchurch born John Gardner, General Manager of the Caravelle Hotel in Saigon. "Last Thursday night, I was standing on our rooftop here at the Caravelle, the charity auction was underway, there was emotion all over, and I thought, ‘If we can do this from here, it can be done from anywhere.'"
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