EARTHQUAKE UPDATE June 2011:

As you are aware, Avonside House suffered extensive damage during the 22nd February Christchurch earthquake. However, it is with good fortune that none of the residents or members of staff were hurt. The Hostel and Office experienced the most damage, and demolition of this building is planned. Some damage was sustained to both Units and the House, but all of these residences have now been assessed as safe to live in by a structural engineer.

Almost all of the residents were evacuated from Christchurch by the Ministry of Health in late February, and were placed in temporary residential care in the Waikato.
Nine of the residents evacuated to Te Awamutu returned to Avonside House on 27th April, and are living in the House and Units. The 14 residents based in Tokoroa will return to Avonside House on 13th June. Most of these residents will be housed in the new Avonside Drive/Te Orewai Place site, which suffered very little damage during the earthquake.

Until an alternative office is found, Avonside House will be operating some Management and staff offices in the House and Unit 1. An office will also be operating from Avonside Drive/Te Orewai Place when it opens, and some Management staff will be based there. Please telephone (03) 389-8844 or (03) 389-0549 to speak to Management staff.

A number of residents have lost some or most of their possessions during the earthquake.  The 11 Hostel residents have lost the vast majority of their possessions. This is very upsetting for the residents, and the replacement of their possessions would impose a financial burden on them. Fortunately, Avonside House has in place an insurance policy for the residents’ possessions.

 

In order to celebrate the opening of the Avonside Drive/Te Orewai Place site, an opening ceremony will be held on 30th June, between 10am and 11.30am. The Minister of Disability Issues, Tariana Turia, will open the complex. This event will not only celebrate the opening of this new residential facility, but also to mark a new beginning after the earthquake.

EARTHQUAKE UPDATE April 2011:

Avonside House suffered extensive damage during the 22nd February earthquake. The Hostel and Office experienced the most extensive damage, and demolition is planned. Some damage was sustained to the Units, House and Flat. However, it is with good fortune that none of the residents or members of staff were hurt.

 

Most of the 11 Hostel residents have lost the vast majority of their possessions. This is both very upsetting for the residents but also financially difficult for them to replace their possessions immediately. We are therefore launching an appeal to those who may be able to help the residents to replace some of their possessions.

Our residents were evacuated from Christchurch by the Ministry of Health in late February. The residents are presently in temporary residential care in Waikato and are doing remarkably well considering the circumstances. We plan to have the residents back with us as soon as we possibly can do so safely. This will take some time, but we consider that this will be a matter weeks from now, approximately by the end of April.

Fortunately for Avonside House, the Avonside Drive development suffered very little damage and is due to be finished within the next few weeks. In addition, the Units, House and Flat are presently being prepared for reoccupation, and an alternative Office is being sought. All going well, these developments will allow Avonside House to house all of the residents and resume a functioning office.

We are confident that our recovery, along with the rest of Christchurch, will be a positive new beginning for us all. Our condolences go to those who have lost loved ones during this tragic and destructive earthquake.