Help for victim who lost their home in the Lyttelton Landslide
This is a page to help the victims who lost their home in the landslide in lyttelton on Thursday the 12th of June.
Lyttelton, Canterbury
At 9:04pm on the 12th of June 2025 in Lyttelton New Zealand. My friend Bjorn Graeme Ritchie who is the homeowner, his cat and two others were inside their home when they heard cracking, shaking and glass smashing. As they approached the sound they saw the walls of their home crashing in towards them and a hill of mud entering their living room.
Fire crews were quickly dispatched and deemed the house unsafe and evacuated.
The residents had nowhere to go, no family or friends to stay with that could accommodate them and no plans on what to do in the future.
This home was apart of the owners family since the 1980s. After caring for his grandfather for several years towards the end of his life, the owner ended up carrying on a wish from his grandfather that he keep the house safe and love it as he did. It was his pride and joy.
The landslide destroyed half of the house and a lot of the very important things within it.
I ask that you give what you can to help support the family during this difficult time and give them a silver lining on a dark cloud.
Please note: The homeowner does have insurance. But it is a very long road to find out whether they cover this slip. Every case is different and we still don’t know the cause of it. The donations here will help cover some accommodation, storage costs for remaining household items when able to collect and other related costs. Thank you all so very much.
Abbey Mason's involvement (page creator)
I am a long time friend of the homeowner.
Use of funds
The money will be spent on temporary accommodation for the victims when needed, storage and repair costs, labour for clean ups and removal of personal items and general necessities that were lost in the home.
Latest update
A thank you from the HomeOwner 18 June 2025
An update from the landslide damaged home. I just want to thank this community and beyond for all of the love and kind words. I’m still staying in motels and searching for somewhere a little more settled for me and my friend until we know what’s happening. The house has been deemed unsafe and uninhabitable. There are months to go before we know what’s happening but the ball is rolling.
Thank you to everyone who has helped in this Give A Little page. Although the house is insured, this is such a long road and there’s limits to what the insurance can help with and limits on accommodation payments so every little bit will truly help with somewhere to stay, moving costs, storage costs and more.
My love goes out to you all and thank you so very much.
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