9. SANDRA GOUDIE (National—Coromandel) Link to this
to the Minister of Corrections
What support is the Corrections Department offering to Canterbury community groups and individuals to help with earthquake recovery?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister of Corrections) Link to this
The Department of Corrections has a labour force of around 2,400 offenders on community work who are available to help with the earthquake clean-up. The department has set up a special 0800 number for people in Canterbury to call with job requests. The number 0800 COMWRK—that is, 0800 266975—can be used by both community groups and individuals who need assistance.
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
To date, the community workers have mainly been helping civil defence to clear debris and heavily silted areas in Kaiapoi. Today they are working alongside civil defence and the army to clear debris from State housing properties in Christchurch and St Paul’s Church in Kaiapoi. Tomorrow workers will be helping clean up one of the school properties at Kaiapoi, which has remained closed since the earthquake. I encourage people who need help to call 0800 COMWRK.