Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association relief news update from New Zealand.
On Wednesday, March 2, strong winds reaching up to 70 kilometers-per-hour raised massive clouds of dust throughout Christchurch, New Zealand, disrupting the efforts of rescue and recovery teams working since the devastating February 22 earthquake.

As the wind also spread bacteria and viruses from the broken sewage infrastructure, city government officials handed out face masks, urging citizens toward hygienic measures such as frequent hand washing to guard against potential spread of contagious diseases such as bird flu.


The official quake death toll of 160 as of Wednesday is expected to pass 240 as more of the missing are found. While the New Zealand government and organizations such as the Red Cross and Salvation Army have been providing support to many victims in need of food and shelter, some parts of the city, are still in need, especially those with the limited access to power and water.

Rocky – Community relief coordinator (M): This whole community over here still doesn’t have fresh clean water, sewage, or any power, so as you can appreciate, cooking and the basic needs are very essential.

VOICE: When the 6.3-magnitude quake occurred, Supreme Master Ching Hai immediately donated NZ$27,000 for emergency needs. With her loving condolences and prayers, she requested that our Association members please go help wherever needed and to bring comfort to the affected.

Covering their own travel and related expenses of NZ$5,000, our Association members from throughout New Zealand came together at Christchurch. Warm, nutritious vegan meals were provided, along with fresh fruit and clean drinking water,to the appreciation of the recipients.

In addition, a continual supply of 60 warm meals per day is being provided to elderly residents and staff at local retirement homes.

Rocky – Community relief coordinator (M): I’d like to say thank you to your Master and your organization for providing this support. From our point of view, we all need to work together; it’s a collaboration, and the more people that are able to come and volunteer, provide food, provide funding, resources to enable us to pull this off, the better.

New Zealand Correspondent (M): This is the Supreme Master TV reporting from Christchurch, New Zealand.

VOICE: With thanks to the Christchurch government, organizations and all personnel assisting the earthquake victims, we also join in appreciation for Supreme Master Ching Hai’s timely loving aid and the caring work of our Association’s relief team. With sympathy for the loss of precious lives, we pray for the smooth recovery of the New Zealand residents and that such disasters are minimized through the gentler lifestyles of humankind.