Christchurch earthquake: Plea for cash, not goods

Christchurch people that have been left homeless gathered at the Civil Defence Emergency Centre at Hagley Park. Photo / Greg Bowker

A civil defence agency has called on donors to give cash rather than goods to the relief fund.

Emergency Management Southland adviser Craig Sinclair has asked people in its area not to give blankets, clothes, children's toys or similar goods.

"There is nowhere to store these items in Christchurch, there is no way of checking where the bedding, clothes and what-have-you have come from and usually it all ends up being dumped, which is a terrible waste."

Yesterday, Genesis Energy donated $500,000 to the Red Cross Appeal and Fonterra donated $1 million.

The profits from the Warriors-Manly league game at North Harbour Stadium on Saturday, including $20,000 from Mad Butcher Sir Peter Leitch, will be donated to the appeal.

Rabobank NZ has donated $100,000 to the Salvation Army fund, while the Lion Foundation charitable trust will contribute $5 million to the city.