OUR VIEW - Help us support quake victims | Bay of Plenty News | Local News in Bay of Plenty

The news pictures say it all - devastation. Last Saturday's Canterbury earthquake has caused about $4 billion in damage - leaving homes and buildings in ruins, a city disrupted and people's lives in disarray.

Many people have lost their homes or livelihoods.

Everyone has been affected in some way. And, if that wasn't bad enough, Mother Nature seems determined to not leave it at that. The region since has suffered 270 aftershocks of magnitude 3 or above.

The people of Canterbury are struggling to come to terms with what has happened and the continuing jolts are fraying their nerves even more, leaving them on a knife-edge. For most of us watching from the relative safety of the Bay, it would be easy to wonder what we can do to help.

Well, there is something we can do - donate to the appeals that have been launched to raise money for the quake victims.

As reported on page one, APN News & Media has today launched a major nationwide quake appeal. Details on how you can donate are on page 10.

APN publishes the Bay of Plenty Times and its community titles Bay News, Te Puke Times, Katikati Advertiser, Waihi Leader and Coastal News, plus the news and information website.

This appeal follows others set up by banks and big businesses.

The APN appeal is an example of the Western Bay's leading media company using its vast coverage to help our fellow Kiwis in their time of need.

This newspaper encourages all businesses and locals across the region to reach out and help by donating to any one of the appeals that have been launched.

Staff here at the Bay of Plenty Times and its associated APN business units will be holding a mufti day tomorrow to raise funds. This is a good opportunity for other businesses to hold a similar fundraising venture. Every bit helps.

If there is anyone or any businesses going beyond the call of duty to raise money, or who have a novel idea to help the earthquake victims, we'd also like to hear about it because we might be able to help with publicity. Simply contact our chief reporter or email news@bayofplentytimes.co.nz

In the meantime, we ask our loyal readers to keep the earthquake on their news radar and consider how they can help us help the people of Canterbury.

For more information about the appeal, see: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10671975