Christchurch earthquake: Chinese families get payout

The collapsed CTV building. Photo / Geoff Sloan

Chinese families of Christchurch earthquake victims are to receive a cash payout from New Zealand - but not from the Government.

Natural Dairy (NZ) Holdings has donated $230,000 - $10,000 each - to the 23 Chinese families who lost loved ones in the February 22 quake.

A Chinese Government official had asked for special compensation for its victims, though that request was later withdrawn.

Now Jack Chen, chairman of Natural Dairy, has handed a cheque to the Chinese Consulate in Auckland. "Natural Dairy is a Hong Kong-listed company, but it is a New Zealand company as well.

"We feel it is our responsibility to help the victim families and to maintain New Zealand's good image in China. We want the victim families to feel the love and care from the Chinese business community," Chen said.

National Dairy has already donated $200,000 to the quake mayoral fund.

Twenty-three Chinese students who were studying in the Canterbury TV building disappeared in the magnitude 6.3 earthquake and only 18 bodies have been identified so far.