After spending a day in the ravaged region Sir John Kirwan praised the strength and resilience of the residents, saying everyone was showing incredible courage since their lives were turned upside down in last Monday's quake. "So I really just wanted to give them permission to be okay about what's going on," he said. You'll get through it, you'll come right and it's important to keep hanging onto hope and helping each other." Sir John also said it was important people took time for themselves. "Enjoy the little things, just try and get through each day."

Source: New Zealand Herald November 24, 2016 23:52 UTC