Kaikoura Civil Defence Media Update #6
Friday 18 November 2016, 6pm

The people of Kaikoura and surrounding districts want to say a big thank you to the personnel from the seven ships representing the four navies of Australia, the United States, Canada and New Zealand who have so generously provided support in the last few days.

“It’s brought confidence to our community to see so much assistance arrive in our time of need,” said Kaikoura Mayor Winston Gray.

“This has been the biggest event we’ve ever experienced and the combined navies have provided tremendous support, evacuating hundreds of people and bringing in tonnes of much-needed supplies. We just couldn’t have done without them and on behalf of everyone here I’d like to express our appreciation,” Mayor Gray said.

Today (November 18) there were seven ships anchored off Kaikoura: HMAS Darwin, HMCS Vancouver, USS Samson, HMNZS Te Kaha, HMNZS Endeavour, HMNZS Canterbury and HMNZS Wellington (now departed).

Mayor Gray said that he was also most grateful to personnel from USS Samson who had taken him in a US Navy Helicopter north of the town to have an aerial view of the coastline and inland valleys.

“For the first time, I could see for myself the massive damage caused by the seabed uplift all along the coast, and I could see the impact it will have on the shellfish industry. We also took a close look at some of the slips up the valleys and along State Highway 1,” he said.

“Now I can see the huge job ahead of us.”

ENDS

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