Christchurch earthquake: Building giant forms crisis unit

Hawkins Construction is working on a $208 million project at Christchurch International Airport. Photo / Supplied

One of New Zealand's biggest construction firms, with a large team on the ground in Christchurch, has formed an earthquake crisis unit.

Chris Hunter, Hawkins Construction chief executive, said the "response unit" was being led by the firm's South Island regional manager, Quin Henderson.

"That was convened a few hours after the main earthquake and is doing everything it can to ensure the safety and security of our current building sites," Hunter said.

One of Hawkins' largest jobs in New Zealand is at Christchurch International Airport, where work worth $208 million is on.

Hawkins is building a new terminal, due to be finished in mid-2012, and while that is under construction, enclosed temporary walkways have been erected to allow undisturbed access between the new and existing parts of the terminal.

These were designed to cater for the peak passenger demands during the Rugby World Cup.

Hunter said understanding the full extent of the disaster and what needed to be done would take time.

"Local authorities are prioritising and managing the official inspection of buildings and our team is in ongoing dialogue with them to provide immediate assistance as and where required.

"We are also supporting clients in their efforts to assess and secure the safety of their buildings. With the level and magnitude of aftershocks ongoing in Christchurch, we are acutely conscious of the need for extreme safety in and around our current building sites.

"We have initiated strict controls around site access for all workers and we anticipate these protocols will be lifted only when safety for the project teams can be assured," Hunter said.

Hawkins, owned by the McConnell family, has a large network of suppliers and subcontractors and Hunter said the firm would use its contacts to provide assistance.

Hawkins' offices at Addington sustained little damage and were fully operational, he said.

Labour from other parts of New Zealand could be moved to Christchurch fast if necessary.

"Some degree of out-of-region resources will be diverted to assist the Christchurch team. At present we are still very much in an assessment phase, however when the overall situation becomes clearer we will endeavour to make as many resources available as required without major disruption to other key projects around New Zealand.

"We are actively co-ordinating resources from both within Hawkins and from our national network of suppliers and subcontractors and we will be presenting an overall list of available capacity to our local Hawkins Response Unit as it develops.

"I believe this is a real opportunity for the building industry to demonstrate some solution-based thinking as well as teamwork for the good of the Canterbury people.

"We are getting an overwhelming response from our own local and national networks and we hope to be able to put them to good use very soon," Hunter said.

Hawkins employs 500 staff in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua, Wellington and Christchurch and operates in Queenstown, Dunedin and Australia.

The firm is building Dunedin's new World Cup arena, the $200 million, 35,000-seat Forsyth Barr Stadium.