Various fundraising activities for the Christchurch Earthquake are now underway. Here's a run-down of what's on and how you can get involved:

13th August - Summer BBQ @ NZ Consul-General's Residence - an auction of donated items was held at the NZSHK's Sumemr BBQ on 13th August. Three paintings by NZSHK COmmittee member Linda Barnes fetched HK$15,000 while a Cocktail Party donated by VnC Cocktails went for HK$6,500. A wine dinner for 2 donated by Lillian Haynes from Wine N T hings raised a further HK$1,900. All proceeds will be donated to the NZ Government's earthquake releif fund.

6th March (from 12PM) – Hemingway's at Discovery Bay is donating 20% of all proceeds from sales on Sunday, 6th March. There will be a raffle and a kapa haka performance by Te Hokioi Ki Whanga Kakara at 4PM.

21st March – Australian International School of Hong Kong (AISHK) will be holding a Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Day at the school on 21st March. Students can pay $10 each to wear mufti or a black and red theme. The day will also include:

• A minute's silence will take place at 11:40am
  
• New Zealand cake stall and food will be available
  
• Games and activities will be planned for lunchtime
  
• Proceeds to go to the NZ Prime Minister's Christchurch Earthquake Appeal

If you wish to be involved in this event, please contact Sue Howe on sue_howe@aishk.edu.hk.

24th March (6-10PM) – Raise The Roof – a major fund-raising event is being played just prior to the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens. The event will be held under The Valley Big Top Tent at the Indian Recreation Club (close to the HK Stadium). Guests will include the NZ Rugby Sevens team and other international rugby legends. Entertainment will include a cultural performance by Te Hokioi Ki Whanga Kakara as well as live music and DJ Uncle Howie. Cost is HK$500 or $200 for students. There will be an auction and a big raffle, with tickets to the Wellington Sevens included as one of many prizes. All proceeds from the day will be donated to the NZ Red Cross Earthquake Appeal. This event is being supported by NZSHK, NZCCHK, NZTE and the NZ Consulate-General. Please see the event flyer for more details.

Until 16th March - Wine 'N Things is holding its "Biggest Villa Maria Offer" with bottles from just HK$86 each. In addition, HK$10 will be donated to the Red Cross Earthquake Appeal for every bottle of NZ wine sold during March. Click here for details >> http://www.winenthingshk.com/index.php?main_page=featured_products

30th April – Michael Turnbull from Hong Kong law firm Deacon's will be running in the Rotorua Marathon on 30th April. All money raised from sponsorship will be donated to the NZ Red Cross Earthquake Appeal. Please visit Michael's online fundraising page at https://www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/MichaelTurnbull/

The Australian International School in Hong Kong (AISHK) will be holding a Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Day on 21st March, as follows:

On Monday 21 March the entire school will take part in an appeal day to support our family and friends in New Zealand, who have recently been affected by the devastating earthquake. Students can take part in our Mufti Day theme of Black and/or Red - the colours of Canterbury.

In addition:

• A minute's silence will take place at 11:40am
• HK$10 coins are to be donated as a mufti contribution
• New Zealand cake stall and food will be available
• Games and activities will be planned for lunchtime
• Proceeds to go to the NZ Prime Minister's Christchurch Earthquake Appeal

A call for any parents who would like to volunteer their help – please contact Sue Howe on sue_howe@aishk.edu.hk

>> UPDATE: This event will now run from 12PM on 6th March (not 5th March as previously advertised).

Hemingways, a bar and restaurant on the Discovery Bay beachside, is donating 20% of all takings on Sunday, 6th March from 12PM to the NZ Red Cross Quake Relief Fund. As if that wasn't enough of a reason to go along and enjoy yourself, there will be live performances by kapa haka group Te Hokioi Ki Whanga Kakara (they performed at the NZSHK Christmas party) at 4PM to entertain you. I hope you'll go along and enjoy yourself, knowing that every drink will help the people of Christchurch.

Here's their invitation to you:

"Many lives and a beautiful city has been destroyed in Christchurch. We feel helpless from afar but we can do what we can to help raise funds that are crucial to the rescue and repair of Christchurch.

Hemingways is a beautiful place on the Discovery Bay beach side to enjoy a nice cool beverage and eat some Caribbean snacks. 20% of all takings over the weekend will go to the NZ Red Cross Quake Relief Fund.

Sunday 4pm - traditional Maori Culture Performance from Te Hokioi Ki Whanga Kakara

Win great prizes in the raffle which runs all weekend. All proceeds to NZ Red Cross.

You can also donate directly at http://www.redcross.org.nz/donate

Please come down and show your support for the people of Christchurch. The more you drink, the more you support :-)"

Please also see their flyer and spread the word to your friends.

From Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand advises that the compassionate fares for travel in the immediate aftermath of the Christchurch earthquake expire today, 2 March 2011.

A new schedule of airfares is now available for immediate family of victims needing to get back to New Zealand to attend funeral/memorial services and/or to repatriate deceased to their home countries. These are available only through Air New Zealand's reservations team. The fares are as follows:

Adult: NZ$500 one-way or NZ$1,000 return plus taxes (fuel surcharges are waived)
Child: NZ$375 one-way or NZ$750 return plus taxes
Restrictions: One date change allowed free of charge for the return portion only; travel to be commenced by 20 March 2011 and completed by 8 April 2011.

This is valid from any of Air New Zealand's international gateways (e.g. Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Tokyo). Contact Air New Zealand at: Jonathan Newman +862 6625 5091 Email: jonathan.newman@airnz.co.nz Address: 5111-12 The Centre, 99 Queens RoadCentral, Hong Kong.

From Adele Bryant, NZ Consul-General in Hong Kong

Numerous fund-raising events are underway and we will keep you informed of major events.

• Police have confirmed 147 fatalities and expect this figure to rise. The disaster victim identification process is well underway and a police family liaison team has been deployed. Missing persons are estimated at 200+ (including the majority of those identified as fatalities).
  
• There are 1200 police in Christchurch. The Army has 1100 personnel deployed. There are also 129 Singapore army personnel assisting our forces.
  
• Seven international USAR teams (439 people) have joined the three NZ USAR teams in the search and rescue operation.
  
• The Lyttleton tunnel is now open for emergency vehicles, essential supplies and Lyttleton residents, and the airport and major rail lines remain open on revised schedules and for freight services respectively.
  
• Damage caused by the Christchurch earthquake on Tuesday, 22 February is localised to the Christchurch City and Lyttelton areas of the South Island of New Zealand. Travellers are advised that all services, including tourism businesses in other parts of New Zealand are operating as usual.
  
• All New Zealand airports are open, including Christchurch airport
  
• All main roads throughout New Zealand are open, including main roads out of Christchurch Airport
  
• For more details on visiting NZ, enquiries could be referred to: www.tourismnewzealand.com.
  

Two Minutes Silence: Tuesday 1 March 7.51am (HKT)

Prime Minister John Key has announced two minutes' silence on Tuesday 1 March at 12.51pm (NZT) 7.51am (HKT) to honour the victims of the disaster. Countries around the world will join New Zealand in observing the silence. Westminster Cathedral will hold a special vigil on March 2 to bring together the London-based New Zealand community.

Book of Condolence

A book of condolence is open for messages and signature at the New Zealand Consulate-General at 6501, Central Plaza, 18 Harbour Road, Wanchai (Hours 10am -1.00pm, 2.00pm- 4.30pm). It will be available until 10 March.

Christchurch Earthquake Appeal launched

The Prime Minister has launched the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal, a global fundraiser for the recovery effort. The appeal is for donations from private and government sources and is designed to complement those already established. Donations can be made at www.christchurchearthquakeappeal.govt.nz . Other appeals are listed on http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/christchurch-quake-appeals-launched-4038581 or see below. Please be careful of scams.

Small cash donations can be left in a donation box at the New Zealand Consulate-General at 6501, Central Plaza, 18 Harbour Road, Wanchai (Hours 9am -1.00pm, 2.00pm- 4.30pm).

Red Cross in Hong Kong - The following is the message from Red Cross regarding the donation method in Hong Kong.

• The International Red Cross will not launch an appeal requesting for international assistance.
  
• The Hong Kong Red Cross is accepting cash donations to be transferred to the New Zealand Red Cross 2011 Earthquake Appeal in support of Red Cross relief actions in New Zealand.
• Upon receipt of donations in Hong Kong , the Hong Kong Red Cross will transfer the donations to New Zealand Red Cross after deducting 6% administrative fee. A cheque payable to "Hong Kong Red Cross" and marked "New Zealand Earthquake 2011" at the back of the cheque can be sent to Communications and Resources Development Department, Hong Kong Red Cross, 33 Harcourt Road , Hong Kong?.

Organizations/Banks in NZ:

• Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org.nz/donate
  
• Salvation Army: 0800 53 00 00 (Specify that your donation is for the "Canterbury Earthquake Appeal") OR
  
• Any ANZ Bank branch: Account number 01-1839-0188939-00
  
• Any National Bank branch: Account number 06-0869-0548507-00
  
• Any Westpac Bank branch: Account number 03-0207-0617331-00
  
• Any ASB Bank branch: Account number 12-3205-0146808-00
  
• Any BNZ Bank branch: Account number 02-0500-0982004-000
  
• Any Kiwibank branch: Account number: 38-9009-0759479-00
  
• Vodafone customers can donate either $3 or $5 to the cause by TXTing "Quake" to either 333 ($3 donation) or 555 ($5 donation). 100% of all donations will go to the NZ Red Cross 2011 Earthquake Appeal.

From Adele Bryant, NZ Consul-General in Hong Kong

We are fielding some enquiries about the latest Christchurch earthquake. Below is some information for your members.

A 6.3 earthquake struck close to Christchurch at 12 . 50pm today. Buildings have collapsed, some power is down and phone services are overloaded (mobile phone and Facebook/internet has worked today and people are encouraged to use texting where possible).
The Prime Minister has travelled to Christchurch and has spoken on TVNZ - summary of his comments:

~ scenes of utter devastation
~ 65 confirmed dead
~ vastly different to last quake - very busy time, violent shake, already damaged buildings
~ community in agony, we will get thorough this
~ focus on those trapped .

For information on the situation refer to the following websites :

www.civildefence.govt.nz
www.ecan.govt.nz

http://canterburyearthquake.org.nz

Ministerial statements can be found on www.beehive.govt.nz . A major SAR operation is underway with offers of help accepted from Australia and US.

News services are covering the emergency with up to date and live reporting.

We are waiting to hear about a service for families trying to contact missing relatives. Wellington is liaising with all foreign missions in New Zealand.

I am sorry to bring such bad news.

Adele Bryant

Consul-General
New Zealand Consulate-General
6501 Central Plaza
18 Harbour Road
Wanchai
HONG KONG
Ph+852 2525 5044
Fax +852 2845 2915
www.nzembassy.com/hong-kong