I remember, years ago, heavy rains that brought extensive slips down on the farm. We didn’t own the land, just managed it, that didn’t matter. The land was scarred and it felt as though my mother had been in a car crash. I knew I loved the land but the depth of my feelings caught me unawares. I experienced a kind of grief. How much more the grief when you see your home in ruins, your land split in two, and then on top of that, for some the loss of livelihood.

If you have friends or family in the Christchurch area offer your loving support. Ask what they need that you can do. Maybe they need to come and stay for a while. If you don’t have friends or family in the area, help anyway – maybe just a donation. It’s going to be a long haul for many of those affected.