Earthquake poses problems for Fonterra, but all milk collected

Damage being repaired on Telegraph Road, near Darfield. Photo / Supplied

New Zealand's biggest corporate and largest exporter, Fonterra, said that all its staff were accounted for and safe.

A spokesman said this morning that Fonterra's service centre and area managers were still busy contacting farmers. "There are no reports of injuries but we have a few badly damaged rotary sheds.

Only a very small percentage of farms are still without power - we have helped those farms to source generators," said the spokesman in a news release.

All milk has been able to be collected "averting both animal welfare and environmental issues. Given damage to roads, this has been a considerable effort."

"Given the damage we've seen in and around Christchurch we've got off lightly. There are no issues at our Takaka, Brightwater, Kaikoura, Clandeboye and Stirling sites. At the Plains site there was some minor damage but production recommenced yesterday."

Since there was only minimal damage at the Port of Lyttelton, Fonterra did not expect any issues with despatching orders to overseas customers.

Fonterra tankers are in Christchurch supplying water to those without. A $1 million donation has also been made to the Mayoral Relief Fund.

- HERALD ONLINE