Christchurch earthquake: Victims seek shelter in north

Janice Ruff, left, greets Mandy Chambers and Aliahna Curtis at Auckland Airport. Photo / Doug Sherring

After long sleepless nights in Christchurch, Mandy Chambers and her baby daughter have fled to Auckland to throw themselves on the mercy of strangers.

Chambers knows Auckland is on an earthquake faultline. She knows about the volcanoes. But somehow, she says, Auckland just feels more secure.

"For some reason it feels safer being further away from Canterbury," she said.

The mother and her 8-month-old baby daughter, Aliahna, are just two of the thousands of Cantabrians who have fled the devastation in their city.

With the power, water and sewage infrastructure shattered, and plans being drawn up for refugee tent cities, many have had enough of their hometown - at least for now.

Christchurch Airport communications manager Monique Oomen said 78,440 people had flown out of Christchurch since February 22, with most going to Auckland. "Air New Zealand had 65,000 passengers leave Christchurch, Jetstar had about 10,000 and the RNZAF carried 3440," she said.

Auckland Civil Defence reports 2000 people registered at three reception centres in the city, but says the city's population was expected to rise - at least temporarily - by 21,000.

Auckland residents have opened their arms to Cantabrians with more than 600 houses advertised on Trade Me and Auckland schools enrolling about 400 students.

The strangers who have opened their arms to Chambers and her daughter are members of the Christchurch Emergency Response Team (CERT), an organisation formed by churches including Encounter Christian Centre, Faith Centre and Harbour Side Church.

CERT has more than 250 houses available in Auckland for evacuees, including the home in Albany that Chambers and Aliahna have moved into, rent-free, for the next six weeks.

CERT volunteer systems manager Kieran Fitzsimmons said the houses had been provided by Auckland residents, some of whom had moved in with other church members.

"They are predominantly vacant rentals but it ranges from billet type placements to fully furnished dwellings."