Mayoral fund for Garden City

Councillors at South Wairarapa District Council observed a moment's silence this week for Canterbury earthquake victims at their first meeting for the year.
Mayor Adrienne Staples said the stories coming out of the disaster were "just terrible" and asked councillors to think of the victims before beginning the meeting.
She said the council's first step towards helping quake victims would be to donate the Mayoral Fund, which totals about $1000. "It's not much but it might be able to help at least one family get back on their feet," she said.
Deputy Mayor Viv Napier said the Wairarapa DHB had asked clinical staff if they would be prepared to go to Christchurch if needed. "In the September earthquake, about four nurses spent about a week down there working, so the DHB has asked clinical staff if they will be happy to go this time, which I'm sure they will given the nature of the disaster."
She said there were arrangements in place at Masterton Hospital, so there was room for quake victims if needed.
"It will probably have a bit of a flow-on effect," she said. "Patients may go to Wellington from Christchurch and then come here."