p_1.gifMembers
cart Shopping Bag    You have 0 items    Checkout
left_top_img.jpg
left_bottom_img.gif

Christchurch Earthquake Page

ChCh_quake.jpg
Photo taken just after the quake from the Port Hills

Please click Here to go to a great site with downloads on coping with the quake, helping children, supporting staff etc.
We listed these guys after the first quake and their information was very helpful last time.
 
5/3/12 Extra Support for ECE services, Click Here:
30/11/11 Red Cross Grant

The Red Cross 2011 Earthquake Commission has confirmed a new grant, the Independent Advice grant, to assist vulnerable homeowners with obtaining assistance on what to do with their earthquake damaged property.

Please download a full description Here:

And the Application Form Here:
14/6/11 Christchurch Aftershock
We are still open in Christchurch today. Educators need to have toilet facilities, clean water and power to be open. You do not have to be open if you chose not to be, but obviously let your Families know your situation. Contact your Coordinator if you have any questions or concerns, or if you cannot get hold of them, contact head office.

Nannies are also ok to be working providing there are toilets, water and power etc, but as above, if you have any questions please call us.

Our thoughts are again with you all.
29/3/11 Well, now the emergency is over and the cleanup has begun, and will continue for years, we feel ok posting this. Especially as it came from some of our Christchurch residents, and like the old adage says, if you can't smile in times of adversary...

You know you're from Christchurch when....
 
  • Geonet / ChristchurchQuakeMap is your homepage
  • The rest of the country offers you a place to stay
  • “Munted” and “buggered” are official technical terms
  • You go 'pfffff' when Wellington has a 4.5 earthquake that's 40km deep
  • You see a nice park in another city and think it would make a good evacuation point
  • You sleep in one suburb, shower in another and collect water from yet another
  • When you drive on the right side of the road and no one thinks it's wrong
  • You are happy two Policemen came for a visit
  • When your bike becomes your best friend
  • You think it's fine for a soldier to be stationed at the end of your street
  • You see armoured vehicles driving down the road
  • It’s normal to greet people with “do you need a shower?”
  • A bucket of sh*t is no longer that old car you drive
  • Every house is a crack house
  • Instead of rushing to the clothes line to get clothes in when it rains, you put dirty washing on the line in the hope that it will rain enough to clean them
  • Going to Wellington to escape earthquakes makes sense
  • Your doctor recommends having a few stiff drinks before bed to help you sleep
  • You know how to start and refuel a generator
  • You have tied the pantry, liquor cabinet and all the cupboard doors closed and it's not to keep kids out
  • You prefer to sit under the table instead of at it
  • You think electronics that have "shock proof" should say to which earthquake magnitude
  • You know and actually understand the terms and conditions of your House and Contents insurance policies
  • You can see irony in claims about houses made of “permanent materials”Your en-suite has a vege garden, dog kennel and grass
  • Your teenagers are only too happy to sleep in the same room as their parents
  • You stop using the term “built like a brick sh*t house”
  • Dressing up to "head into town" means putting on a hi-viz vest, hard hat and boots
  • Discussing toilet habits with total strangers is an everyday norm
  • Wee boys don't get excited when they see (another) digger or a dozer - but all the adults in the street cheer wildly
  • Voluntarily staying in Timaru for five days seems like a good idea
  • You know what that extra gear lever on your 4X4 is for
  • Metservice includes a graph for dust
  • You have dust mask tan lines
  • You can use the term "liquefaction" in everyday casual conversation, even your 3-year old can
  • When a massive group of students appears in your street, you feel overwhelmed with gratitude  instead calling the Police. What’s more, the students leave the street in better condition than when they arrived
  • The answer to where anything is ... it’s on the floor
  • You smile at strangers and greet people like you’re one big family
7/3/11 HGK is OPEN in the greater Christchurch area, excluding the area of the Civil Defence inner cordon, from today.
Providing your home has passed the safety check and been looked at by one of our Christchurch staff and all relevant paperwork completed (Please contact your Coordinator or Head Office if you are unsure what is required), then care can take place. Please also contact us directly if you have any questions.
7/3/11
Updated 11:00am		 Susan in Christchurch has already applied for the subsidy, filled in the forms and been accepted, took her less than 5 mins so she tells us!

ALL EDUCATORS: In regards to assistance packages for educators who have not yet filed for the 2011 year and are not registered as self employed.

We are waiting for confirmation from the Home-Based Association who are waiting on a written response, but Carol tells us she has heard of two instances now where services have given educators confirmation of earnings letters and these have been accepted and the educator paid the subsidy.

If HGK collects your payments we can supply you with the letter which you can use in your application but until we hear back officially we can't guarantee the subsidy will be granted. If you have any problems or successes accessing the subsidy please let us know.

For Educators that we are not collecting funds for, you will need to supply your own records in the same way.
7/3/11 The Home-based Association, of which we are a member, has a great page with a lot of up to date and relevant information Here
We recommend you keep an eye on this page as well.
4/3/11 Kim Tolfrey approached some businesses last week to see if they could donate any art supplies or things to help with art and craft so she could send them down to our HGK educators in CHCH. She has received from Spotlight and Farmers- paintbrushes, tape, card board, glue etc. Her and her husband have also bought paints, collage materials etc out of their own pocket to add to the stuff and then to top it off they have paid for the 3 boxes of goods to go down to CHCH out of their own pockets. Thanks Kim for your wonderful gift!
3/3/11 Red Cross Subsidies may be available to our Families, Nannies, Staff and Educators that have been displaced, please click Here for more details
2/3/11 Where are we closed?
HGK is currently closed in the Christchurch City Area. The closure in Selwyn and Waimakariri districts has been lifted, but there are conditions that have to be met before you can open, which your Coordinator will go over with you.  If you are outside these areas then it should be business as usual for you. Please contact us if you are in an outlying area and have any concerns about the safety of your house.
We currently have some staff back at work and trying their best to get to as many homes as possible, so that when we get the all-clear to re-open in the Christchurch City area, we are already to go. They are starting in the least affected areas first to keep out of the way of emergency workers as best as possible.

Emergency Care
Some Educators have been open in the affected areas, supplying care to emergency workers on a private payment arrangement, which is ok as it doesn’t involve HGK or Ministry Funding. Those that have been able to do this, we are truly grateful.

Earthquake Subsidies
Please visit the Home-Based Association Website Here and access their information regarding subsidies. As far as we are aware, Educators and Nannies are eligible for these subsidies but have to meet a number of conditions first, all of which is explained on the website
  ALL EDUCATORS...who are in a position to provide care in or out of Christchurch are asked to contact HGK urgently. We have had a request from the Ministry of Education to provide spaces for emergency and essential staff that are working to help others but need childcare for their own children to do so. Please use our 0508 445437 number, or text Leanne on 021-0261 8330
You will need to have running water, power, phone etc as per the usual requirements
 
Ministry of Education Link
This link will provide you with the latest updates on when we can open and what is required
3/3/11
List updated
2:30






 

HGK Educators offering accommodation


Thank you so much to our fabulous Christchurch Educators who have offered to accommodate those that have a desperate need for a bed and a shower. Please contact them directly.

Rosalie has one room available for accommodation and also had home inspected by HGK so is all go to take on children again.  Home 03-3275667  Mobile 027-2624962 Rosalie is in Kaiapoi   

Gina is now full and looking after a Family, thanks Gina!

Kerry  can provide accommodation.  Phone  (03) 3494575 or 027 4171 879. Kerry is in Hornby

Tracy can also provide care if required.  Her home is fully operational.  Phone (03) 313 8009 or 021 025 42769 (Can provide accommodation as well) Tracy is in Rangiora.

Megan can provide care immediately.  She also has power, water and an undamaged house.  Phone 03-3446118 or 027-783 2016 (Can provide accommodation). Megan is in Hornby

Roxanna will be available to provide care from Monday 28th Feb.  She has power, water and an undamaged house.  Phone 027 634 8325. Roxanna is in Burnside

Kari can provide childcare.  She has power, water and an undamaged house.  Phone 027 301 1610 or 021 058 8987. Kari is in Hornby

Sharon can provide care for children but cannot provide accommodation. Home 03-3478862
Mobile 021-2235485. Sharon is in Rolleston.

Corinna can care for other children from Tuesday 1/3/11.  Her house is fully operational.  She may also be able to provide accommodation. 3122-363. Corinna is in Woodend

Tania can also provide accommodation and care for children.  Home 03-3549611
Mobile 027-6317192 Tania is in Redwood

Lynda can provide care for children if required, but not accommodation at this stage. Linda is in Belfast. Please contact HGK for Lynda's details

Atawhai is able to care for children in her home but is unable to supply accommodation. Please contact HGK for Atawhai's details.

Joanne is happy to provide care and accommodation if required. Home 03-693 9221
Mobile 021-1255086. Joanne is in Geraldine.

Donna can assist with childcare at this stage from Monday the 28th Feb, but not accommodation. Please contact HGK to get in touch with Donna, who is in Rolleston.
 
24/2/11
12:35 pm		 Hi everyone,

We just wanted to let you know that our thoughts and prayers are with everyone that has been effected by the earthquake in the Canterbury area. It has been a tough few days and we, like the rest of New Zealand, are looking for ways to help.

If you are trying to reach our Coordinators in the Canterbury area – Anna Julian, Amanda Bradley, Mary-Rose Taylor, Lisa James or Antoinette Clark, they are all safe (thankfully), as is Julie our Nanny Recruitment expert. They too are in crisis mode - some are without power, some with homes that are badly hit and they are all concentrating on keeping their families safe.

Therefore, any queries you have for them, please send them to info@homegrownkids.co.nz  or you can call us on our freephone 0508 44 54 37.
We will do everything we can to help.


TIMESHEET INFO

If you are unable to submit timesheets, or your families are unable to confirm timesheets we are not expecting this to happen.

If we are currently receiving WINZ or ECE Subsidies for any children in your care we are still able to pass this on to you for the next three weeks, irrespective of whether you are caring for these children or not. Your payments for these subsidies will go through on your normal pay days.
24/2/11
12 pm		 HGK Staff...will be in touch with you all as soon as they are able to (a lot of you have already been contacted). Some staff have had to leave the area, 1 has lost her house, and all are currently looking to their families. As we get updates we will let you all know, but as phone and email communication is not the best at present, please be patient.
24/2/11
11:30 am		 HGK Staff...are all safe and well, and in the same position as a lot of Christchurch residents, without power and water. We are officially closed in Christchurch, but as above, if you are able to provide emergency workers with childcare, please contact us.
24/2/11
11:30 am		 The Ministry of Education has said that 20 hours emergency ECE funding is being made available until at this stage the 8th March, so children booked into care will still be eligible for this, even if they are absent.