Rarotonga rallies for Christchurch quake

The special relationship between the Cook Islands and New Zealand is genuine.
Cook Islanders have many friends and relatives living in New Zealand and Cookies are NZ citizens but it’s not just their own family they care about when disaster strikes.
The New Zealand government and private citizens have been quick to help us in the past after cyclones and such. Now it’s our turn to show we care. And the call to do something has come from the community – from the heart.
Friday 4 March was 'red and black day' on Rarotonga and other islands and atolls in the Cooks. Shops, offices, banks, schools and many individuals wore red and black - Canterbury colours - and raised money to be given to the Red Cross to help the victims of the Christchurch earthquake.
Cook Islands News reported on Saturday that organisers of the appeal were overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity.
Counting is not yet finished but it will be a large amount.
And it’s not over yet. Some businesses asked to hang on to the collection boxes over the weekend to collect more donations and a big concert is planned by local artists next week with money to be shared by the Queensland flood and cyclone appeal as well as the Christchurch quake victims.