Fruity boost - from north to south

THANKS A BUNCH: Christchurch residents say thanks for the latest lot of citrus fruit from Whangarei. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Christchurch residents are tucking into tonnes of fruit from Northland after a second successful Citrus For Christchurch this month.

Former Christchurch resident Christine Stephenson, who now lives in Whangarei, held the first Citrus For Christchurch drive last month that ended up sending 142 boxes of the fruit - about two tonnes - to the South Island city.

Ms Stephenson was motivated by seeing citrus going to waste in gardens around Whangarei and felt that as citrus did not grow in Christchurch it would brighten up the earthquake-ravaged city to have some citrus.

The first load was gratefully received in Christchurch so last week she organised another collection - along with the Loins Club - that saw 124 boxes of citrus, including 62 boxes of lemons - donated and sent to Christchurch.

Ms Stephenson said it was another amazing response from Whangarei folk and this would be the last citrus collection this year. There will be more citrus drives next year, but the Lions CLub may well take over organising the collections and delivery, she said.

"The 142 boxes were collected over two days, but these 124 boxes were over one day, so that's an excellent response," she said.

"The biggest donations were of lemons and they just positively glowed. They were so much better looking and brighter than the ones you buy in the shops and will provide a positive ray of sunshine for Christchurch.

"The response was again wonderful, One woman came by at 2pm to ask when we were finishing and when I said 4pm she left. Then came back a wee while later with heaps of them saying she's got the family out from in from of the TV to pick them all. So, good on you Whangarei for giving to our neighbours in Christchurch."

KiwiRail and Mainfreight teamed up with Citrus for Christchurch to move the shipment of fruit south.

"We are very proud to be a part of this fantastic project and to be able to show our support for the locals in both Whangarei and Christchurch," KiwiRail's General Manager of Sales, Alan Piper said.

The shipment will be delivered to a fruit and vege co-op in Christchurch which started 22 years ago but has grown since the earthquakes.