Volunteers on the front line in Christchurch

This story comes from the IAVE national representative in New Zealand, Tim Burns: There are so many different groups and their volunteers involved that I could not name them all here. Indeed I hear about another group working on the ground in Christchurch almost every day. However I wish to acknowledge at least some of them. Seen regularly on our TV screens have been New Zealand's volunteer specialist urban search and rescue teams and the Red Cross emergency response teams which have played many different roles.

Volunteers - they have been so much in the front line and the backbone of the response to Christchurch's devastating earthquake.

Less visible are specialist agencies such Victim Support which is working not just in Christchurch. It has teams in other parts of New Zealand assisting those who have had to leave Christchurch. There have been local health service teams that have had significant volunteer input. The Salvation Army and other church and faith based agencies and groups are playing important roles. And we must acknowledge the community based initiatives such as the Student Volunteer Army, the Farmers Army and Rangiora Express.There are many more we would like to acknowledge and in time we hope we will learn of them all.

Equally it has been great organisation, co-ordination and leadership which have been most essential in ensuring these volunteer services have been able to play their roles most effectively.

While this would be expected of highly skilled services such as urban search and rescue, it has been just as important for teams such as the student volunteer army. This was well illustrated on a TV One report as they took off on their first assignments. Over a shot of an organiser giving instructions, the commentator commented on how much organisation and management was needed to get the volunteers on the road.

The volunteer involvement will be needed for a long time yet and this is a key message Volunteering New Zealand and the volunteer centres network is giving to those many people in other parts of NZ and from around the world. Their services cannot be used just yet but they may well be in a month or so and as part of the rebuilding that will come. VNZ is encouraging these people to register their interest through an email to emergency [dot] management [at] dia [dot] org [dot] nz and to keep that passion and enthusiasm for when it is needed.

(Photo: geoftheref)