Work together to rebuild Christchurch

It would be wrong not to write about the Christchurch disaster this week.
The media coverage has been unrelenting, as have conversations in the office and at home, with friends and family,. all of us offering differing opinions and reflections on the tragedy
My first feeling was one of helplessness as I watched the first hour unfold online. Frantic text messages of "are you guys okay'' to friends in Christchurch got no response.
The looks of utter disbelief as buildings crumbled, the first reports of loss of life stabbed deep into everyone's hearts.
I was to have flown to Wellington on Tuesday afternoon for a board meeting with the Economic Development Agencies of New Zealand, but the airspace was closed and I returned home, as did half of the board.
The agenda for the evening to have been preceded by a presentation from the Christchurch Economic Development Agency chief executive on the economic recovery progress made in Christchurch in the five months since the first quake.
Although there was no quorum for the board meeting, I phoned through and asked that the agenda be changed to how economic development agencies in New Zealand could help Christchurch in this time of need.
We will be  focusing on this task in the upcoming weeks as business recovery starts in the garden city.
The challenges business has faced here in Rotorua and in New Zealand since the recession now pale into insignificance as New Zealand rises to the challenge and puts aside competition to work together for Christchurch.
Everyone has a stake in  rebuilding the city and everyone must ask what he or she can do _ no matter how small the step forward may be, it is now one we must  take collectively.
New Zealand has been incredibly generous when tragedies have occurred in other countries and it is now our turn to receive.
It is heartening to see the immediate response from our Australian cousins, in light of having just been hammered by their own devastation.
I did get response texts back late last Tuesday from all my friends.
My good friend in Lyttelton simply said: "we are OK GK, the house is badly damaged mate, not sure what's happening in CHCH, this eggshell flying through space filled with molten rock is a fragile place.''
This will be a tough year, but we are a nation of battlers.
- Grant Kilby is the general manager for Destination Rotorua Economic Development