Help Earthquake Struck Waiau Family

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Waiau is a town that's been mostly forgotten in the wake of the earthquake, as most efforts have been focusing on Kaikoura.

Peter and Jules Wallace have had their home completely wrecked by the earthquake.

"Peter and Jules Wallace have suffered enough. And now this.

Grand-daughter Sophia died in a tragic farm accident five years ago.

She is buried in the same plot as her wee brother Liam, who died in his cot aged five months old.

Monday's monstrous quake whipped through their house at in the tiny North Canterbury settlement of Waiau, where the Child, Youth and Family foster parents were living with six children under CYF care.

Today, Peter and Jules, who runs the destroyed playcentre in town, picked through the condemned house to retrieve family mementoes. And photographs of Sophia.

"They say what doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger. And I believe that. I have to," Peter said.

Inside is a bomb-site of cracked concrete, dusted plaster, fallen furniture, broken glass, crushed yoghurt, a toppled toilet, and kids toys.

The backyard lawn is a corrugated minefield, complete with a liquefaction river.

A memorial stone and cross to Sophia in the front garden will be transplanted to their new home - wherever that may be.

They have had offers of temporary accommodation. It's important that they get a good-sized, safe home.

At the moment, they're staying at Waiau's camping ground."

"The way this community is pulling together - like they did after Sophia died - has just been awesome."

They deserve all the help they can get, because they've gone through a ton of hardship, and have always been incredibly selfless. The money will go towards making Pete and his family's lives normal again, and having a stable place to live for the time being. It may also go towards buying a home for them, their grandkids, and all the children they foster.

Photo/video credit: Kurt Bayer, NZ Herald