Offers of help for those affected by the Christchurch earthquake poured in from around Otago yesterday.
More than 80 Central Otago residents had offered accommodation so far through Central Otago information centres. Official offers in Waitaki were climbing beyond 130 yesterday, with 10 people placed so far. A further 19 people were being moved from Christchurch rest-homes to Oamaru addresses.
Meanwhile, Desiree Bond and friends Deni Bevin and Holly Hargreaves, of Queenstown, had collected 40-litre water containers for Christchurch. The containers were used for mulled wine at the Queenstown winter festival. The women were heading north with a horse float full of the containers, and Mr Bevin was collecting larger containers. The operation has been sanctioned by Civil Defence.
The group plans to station itself on the city's outskirts and stay for a few days, hoping the aid will end up in quake-affected city suburbs such as Aranui. It also hoped to help with transport and other errands for people without vehicles or who lost them to the quake.
The charitable convoy was being supported in part by Queenstown-based actor Sam Neill. Ms Bond is Mr Neill's PA - the Jurassic Park star had given her three days off and was chipping in for petrol.
