Dear Christchurch Repair Project Volunteer,

Greetings to all those who have previously expressed interest in helping us rebuild Christchurch:

We have good news, we now have some funding for materials, to assist in repair work for vulnerable families.  We also have funding from a variety of sources, to assist with such things as volunteer transport, catering, vehicle purchase, tool purchase, such that with these costs now covered we can seriously reduce the cost of volunteer involvement.

Our Repair Project Redefined: This has now been further defined as helping vulnerable families in the green zone: those who are over 65 years age, those with disabilities and serious health issues, those with children under 18, and those with no insurance.  We will be undertaking what is considered  essential repairs to homes, making them safer and more weatherproof for the long term with an average expenditure of $9,000 for materials. There is no way that we can bring houses back to either building code standards, or their condition pre-earthquakes, the cost would much higher per house and our priority is to help as many families as possible with the limited funds we do have.

We are also investigating, in consultation with several other parties, the financial realism of shifting red zone houses, where the land is “munted” but the house is largely undamaged, onto other sections in a similar locality, and repairing these homes to bring them back to liveable standard.

Timeframe: We are currently going through the process of assessing damaged homes as well as assessing families to determine if they fit our vulnerable criteria. We are keen for limited numbers of volunteers to join our work, from 14th November through 16th December 2011, and again from 16th January 2012 through 17th February (maximum of 12 volunteers at any one time). Then from 20th February 2012 onwards we hope to ramp up to full scale repair work, and can accommodate a maximum of 22 volunteers at any one time.

Travel to Canterbury: This is at the volunteer’s own expense.  We request any tradesperson coming, to bring their vehicle and tools as they will be needed. For others, you can fly or drive.  If you drive, we recommend carpooling with other volunteers to lower the cost per person. We are working on arranging a discounted ferry crossing for those from the North Island, this information should be available in the next few weeks. If you fly, we have an offer pending from Air NZ for a $249 round trip airfare from the North Island, and $199 round trip airfare from the South Island, these prices to be confirmed soon or you can make your own flight bookings.  Overseas volunteers must find their own way to NZ and Canterbury.

Accommodation in Christchurch: We have now completed renovations to two small houses located at Breezes Rd. Baptist Church in Wainoni (north-east Christchurch) which provide basic accommodation sleeping  4-6 persons to a room on bunk beds, and can sleep 22 volunteers at a time. The church hall kitchen and dining room has also been upgraded to cook and feed up to 24 volunteers. Bathrooms have also been upgraded with gas hot water showers. The lounge in one bedroom will be a TV lounge with Sky available. The lounge in the other house will have two computers set up for volunteers to do email from, as well as being a reading lounge.

Vehicles: We have purchased a 10 seater van to assist transporting volunteers back and forth to the airport and around Canterbury, as well as construction vehicles to transport both volunteers and tools.

Tools: We are purchasing sufficient tools for all volunteers to use, the exception is that a tradesperson is requested to bring their own vehicle and tools (especially plumbers and electricians). If you are able to bring your own nail pocket, some basic hand tools and perhaps a battery drill. Power tools will be provided.

Medical Insurance: No longer required as the health hazards in Canterbury are largely concluded.  Habitat wishes to make clear it will take no responsibility and each volunteer must be responsible for themselves and sign a waiver of liability before commencing work.

Habitat T-shirts: In Canterbury Red & Black colours - not required but available for sale at $20 each at the Breezes Rd. site.  For identification purposes inclusive security and safety, every volunteer working will be required to wear their Habitat supplied nametag.

Cost of Volunteering: We have funds to cover most project and volunteer costs except travel (as above) and food, and the cost of power, water and gas for hot showers.  $150 per week per volunteer will be charged for the food, power, water and gas usage. Come for 1 week = $150, 2 weeks = $300, and an extra $150 for every extra week. This must be paid to Habitat before travel to Canterbury and commencement of work. Meals include Breakfast (toast or cereals), packed lunch delivered to the worksite, and a cooked dinner, for Monday to Friday (5 days per week). On the weekend volunteers can make their own breakfast from toast and cereals provided, however must find lunch and dinner elsewhere each Saturday and Sunday as the Church requires the use of their hall and kitchen. Habitat can assist with transport as long as it is kept minimal. There is no cost to volunteers living in Christchurch who are providing their own transport and accommodation.

Teams of Six: We want to work in small teams of 6 persons, meaning we can have four houses under repair at one time.  Each team must have one tradesperson as leader and supervisor. If you belong to a service club, church or other organisation, please aim to raise up a team of six persons inclusive one tradesperson. If you are an individual, of course you are welcome to help but it does mean we may have to be less flexible and try and fit you in with other individual volunteers to make up a team.

Can you kindly let us know if you are still interested in helping us rebuild Canterbury? Please answer by return email with a short answer, either A, B, C or D as per the following guideline:

A = I am definitely interested and want to help between 14 November 2011 and 17 February 2012. Please contact me how I can get involved in the early stages of work.

B = I am definitely interested, and want to help after 17 February 2012. Please send me your Volunteer Manual when completed soon, so I can choose what time of year in 2012 is best for me.

C = I am unsure and need a bit more time to consider this.  Please keep communicating with me in the meantime.

D = I am definitely no longer interested, please remove me from further communications about the Canterbury Earthquake Repair Project.

Please Note: If we do not hear from you with either an A, B or C answer as above, we will have to assume you are no longer interested, therefore if you are still keen, it is important to send us a reply email.

Thank you for your patience and understanding; it has been a frustrating waiting game as we have sought the funds to enable this project to get underway, but at least we are there at long last.

Kind regards,

Lynley Payton

Christchurch Earthquake Repair Project - Volunteer Coordinator