Christchurch earthquake fund closes after donating $8.2m

​Money donated from across the world after the February 2011 earthquake helped rebuild theatres, repair playgrounds and provide emergency housing.

The Christchurch Earthquake Mayoral Relief Fund closed on Thursday after donating its last $50,000 to the Residential Advisory Service, which helps Canterbury homeowners deal with the Earthquake Commission and insurance claims.

The fund amassed $8.2 million and, during the past five years, 70 grants have been given to 63 recipients.

Most of the grants went to small community organisations wanting to rebuild community centres or sports clubs and theatre groups looking to replace their spaces. 

The Christchurch City Council was the largest recipient, receiving almost $2m in three separate grants, but the bulk of that money, $1.8m, was donated to the council for a specific purpose.

Auckland Council donated $1.5m to the council and tagged it for purposes including $400,000 to replace liquefaction-damaged playground surfaces, $400,000 to repair parks in the eastern suburbs and $200,000 for the Rugby World Cup fan zone in Hagley Park.

The city council received $300,000 tagged to fund an international speakers series of events. It received $170,000 for the interment site at Avonhead Park Cemetery for the unfound victims of the February 2011 earthquake.

The Mayor's Welfare Charitable Trust received two donations, tagged for that purpose, totalling $520,366.

The Government received $1m to go towards the $11m earthquake memorial being built on the banks of the Avon River 

Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel last week heavily criticised the former council's 2012 decision to transfer money from the fund to the memorial.

She wanted the money reinstated to the fund, but it was too late.  

Other recipients included Aviva Family Violence Services, which used the $500,000 to help develop and build a wellbeing service at Eastgate Shopping Centre. The Christchurch City Mission received almost $300,000 toward an emergency homelessness accommodation project.

The Isaac Theatre Royal, The Court Theatre, YMCA, the Loons Theatre Trust and the Southern Ballet Theatre Trust all received money to build new theatres. 

Top 10 recipients:

Christchurch City Council:  $1.97m

Earthquake Memorial: $1m

Mayor's Welfare Charitable Trust: $520,366

Aviva Family Violence Services: $500,000

Isaac Theatre Royal: $300,000

Mt Pleasant Memorial Community Centre: $300,000

The Loons: $300,000

Christchurch City Mission: $294,434

Canterbury Charity Hospital: $200,000

Southern Ballet Theatre Trust: $200,000

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/81358306/Christchurch-earthquake-fund-closes-after-donating-8-2m