Email to all staff - 4:40pm 24 February

Dear all, After continuing efforts to contact our staff in Christchurch today we are pleased to say that all permanent employees have now been contacted and none are injured. Efforts are ongoing to contact  casual workers and visitors. We have no reports of injury from this group to date and do not at this stage have any information that would lead us to hold any specific fears for the safety of those yet to be contacted.

Sadly we have become aware that a very small number of our staff have lost people close to them, or hold very grave fears. Our thoughts are with them and their families and we offer them our sincerest condolences.

It is humbling that while we all want to help our colleagues as much as possible, the reality is that there is only so much we can do from a distance. A few simple actions have been taken today to support on a practical level. We have arranged for the delivery from Dunedin of a quantity of water containers so staff can store and transport water for their homes. We have also set up a new page on iPlant with useful information and website links.

In talking today with staff in the region the support team and line managers have noted the strength of fellowship in Lincoln. A number have returned to the site to work as best they can. This is a personal decision which we have supported. A decision on when the site may reopen officially will be made tomorrow.

Roger Bourne
On behalf of the team