23 February
2011
Written by Brian Martin
It was with terrible sadness, and a very heavy heart, that I heard the news and saw the devastation in the pictures on TV of the most recent Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand earthquake.
It was total devastation, hardly imaginable to myself holidaying at a hot spring resort at a beach north of Auckland in the North Island. Boyhood memories came flooding back to me of war-bombed London, where I grew up.
I experienced a further deep emotional impact, when I woke up to the fact that my friend and colleague, the managing director of our New Zealand business, was in Christchurch doing some leadership work for the managers of the Christchurch City Council, for the day.
It was a huge relief that I learnt via our Wellington office that he was safe and had been evacuated from the city centre.
There will be a huge amount of work ahead, digging people from the rubble and ruins, and uncovering people who have died in the catastrophe.
My thanks to my many friends around the world, who e-mailed me messages of “are you okay?” Thank you, it was much appreciated.
I am sure New Zealand will reel under the impact of this for many days and weeks ahead. And the people of Christchurch, this beautiful garden city, will feel this for many months, maybe many years. Many people may leave Christchurch, as a result of the continued earthquakes Christchurch continues to experience.
I send my prayers and blessings for the safety and psychological well-being for the people who had the misfortune to experience this harrowing event.