The Chinese Consulate General letter of thanks to Mayor Anne Munro following bus crashes.
Following the recent crashes of two busses in difficult winter driving conditions, Mayor Ann Munro received the following letter of thanks from the Chinese Consulate General: Consul Generla He Ying
As the old saying goes, a friend in need is a friend indeed. Recent bus accident involving Chinese tourists close to Lake Tekapo is a perfect example of what true friendship means.
In this accident, dozens of Chinese tourists including some children were injured. Soon after the accident, the Mackenzie District Council, the Canterbury police, the local civil defence and community volunteers rushed to the scene and immediately sent the injured to hospitals and others to the local welfare centre, where volunteers provided meals, translation services and psychological counselling. The children, in particular, were not only properly accommodated, but also accompanied by volunteers to play basketball, so that they would feel less pain and stress brought by the accident.
When I visited my fellow Chinese citizens injured in this accident, many of them broke into tears and repeatedly asked me to convey their gratitude to the local passers-by who lent a hand without hesitation after the bus crash.
A lady said, “My son's face was covered in blood and I was petrified. A gentleman squatted down to help bandage my son’s wounds and kept giving him encouragement and comfort.”
Another lady said, “I am very grateful to a kiwi mother who was holding a baby. It was very cold at that time. She came to us with her baby, put all the clothes they brought over my child and asked us to stay in her car to keep warm.”
Another said, “My husband and child were both taken to the hospital, so I was very worried and helpless. A lady came over and kept comforting me and listened to me patiently. I am especially grateful for her understanding and consolation.”
On behalf of these Chinese tourists, my team and I would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all the New Zealanders who provide your priceless help and support. Please forgive me for not being able to thank you all in person. Your actions demonstrated the true essence of the humanitarianism of the New Zealanders and your deep friendship for these Chinese tourists, which warmed our hearts. This also reminded me of our New Zealand friends who stood with us shoulder by shoulder in times of difficulty.
We won’t forget Katherine Hall, a New Zealand nurse, who came to China during the most difficult years of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, regardless of her own safety, providing medical services to Chinese soldiers and ordinary people under extremely harsh conditions. She had a beautiful Chinese name, He Mingqing.
We won’t forget James Bertram, a New Zealand journalist, who went to the front line to report stories of the Chinese people’s resistance during World War II, and helped the western world better understand China’s great sacrifice and contributions to the final victory of the Allied Countries.
We won’t forget Rewi Alley, an old friend of Chinese people, who initiated Gung-Ho movement(the Chinese Industrial Cooperatives) and Beili School in China during World War II. For him, sixty years in China was just like a single day, as he devoted all his time and energy to China and its people, making an important contribution to the establishment of diplomatic relationship between China and New Zealand. His great deeds are still remembered by the Chinese people today.
In this race against time to rescue the injured, all the kiwi friends who generously rendered help are Katherine Hall, James Bertram, and Rewi Alley of the day. What you have demonstrated is not only excellent professional competence but also profound respect and care for life. Through your actions, we are once again moved by the warmth and harmony of New Zealand society and the enthusiasm and kindness of the New Zealand people.
These heartwarming stories and deep friendship between China and New Zealand laid the cornerstone for the stable development and further advancement of China-New Zealand relations. Chinese people will always remember with gratitude those kiwi friends who have supported us through thick and thin, whether in the past, present or future. We are willing to work hand in hand to ensure that the friendship between China and New Zealand will be passed on to future generations, further benefiting our two peoples.