New Zealand has a great community spirit that not many other countries could boast about, but that’s the catch, we don’t boast. So I am here to talk about three classic examples of why every New Zealander should be proud of their country: the rugby world cup Christchurch earthquake charitable trust, the Turangi campground attack public response and the Christchurch student volunteer army.
In September 4th 2010, Christchurch was struck with a 7.1 magnitude earthquake. The student volunteer army was formed via a Facebook page and was a place where cantabrians could find information about how to join the volunteer army. Over the immediate response period, the student volunteer army cleared a total of 65,000 tonnes of liquefaction. On February 22nd 2011 Christchurch was struck with another powerful earthquake, which caused much more destruction and devastation than September 4th. Since the student volunteer army had already come to action in September, it only made February easier in terms of organization. So students took to the streets, delivering hot meals, clean water and taking time to visit the elderly, making sure they had everything required. The actions of thousands of young people who helped lift the spirit in many communities were remarkable and a great example of kiwi ingenuity.
Whilst students could help first hand with the recovery of the February earthquake, the rugby world cup was a great example of what people could do if they wanted to help but didn’t live in Christchurch. Teams who were involved in the rugby world cup, including Australia, England, France, Scotland and New Zealand all demonstrated their support for the appeal set up by the rugby world cup organizers from New Zealand, through visiting Christchurch or separate donations. New Zealanders from all over the country prompted the teams because they wanted to ensure the people of Christchurch were central to the biggest event ever hosted in New Zealand. With rugby very much at the heart of the community in the city, all donations were passed on to the Canterbury Rugby Earthquake Charitable Trust to support the Trust in targeting communities that had been hit the hardest. This again, showed the modest generosity, which is so strongly present in New Zealand.
Another example of kiwi generosity was the overwhelming support provided for the family of a 5-year-old who was viciously raped by a 16-year-old in her family’s caravan in the
