Minister shocked at building collapse

He mate tangata, he whanau pani.

“Kei te tangi te ngakau ki nga tangata tokorua kua whara kia mate. E hoa ma, e nga kaiawhina i te iwi kainga o te marae o Manurewa, haere, haere, haere ki te Po.

“E nga whanau pani, ka nui te aroha ki a koutou i tenei wa. Kia kaha koutou, kei te tangi tatou katoa ki o koutou aitua.

“Ko te tumanako, ka kaha nga ratonga ohotata ki te whakaora i nga mea kua whara, kia whakahokia raua ki te hohipera.”

The Minister of Maori Affairs is shocked and upset to hear of an accident in which two people have been killed and two others injured.

“My understanding is that a building gifted by the Manukau City Council to the Manurewa Marae was shifted onto the marae, to be used for a health clinic. I am told the two halves of the building were up on jacks, and there was a collapse, which killed two of the house moving contractors and trapped another. Others may have been injured,” said Dr Sharples.

“Any death is a tragedy, and an accident that cuts down workers on the job is a terrible shock. I feel for their families, who will be so distressed at this time.

“The whole of the iwi kainga of Manurewa Marae will be devastated by this accident. I know the people so well, I visit Manurewa Marae all the time.

“I am keeping in touch with developments, and I know the people will be doing all they can to help the emergency services to rescue the injured and get them to hospital, and to care for the tupapaku in the proper way,” said Dr Sharples.