International kiwifruit marketer Zespri has revealed it will contribute NZ$100,000 to a fund set up to assist victims of last month's devastating earthquake in New Zealand's second-largest city.
The company's chief financial officer, Merv Dallas, said it had concluded that a cash contribution to the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal, due to be paid on 4 March, would be the most effective way of helping.
'Our hearts go out to Christchurch residents and visitors who have been affected by this tragedy,' he commented.
Meanwhile, one of Zespri's retail customers in Japan, Aeon, has also announced that, between 21 April and 20 May, it will donate ¥1.00 (NZ$0.01) for each kiwifruit sold in 1,200 of its stores to the fund.
In addition, Aeon's 1% Club, which brings together the whole Aeon group of companies, has already donated ¥10m (NZ$165,000) via the New Zealand Embassy in Japan.
'We are very humbled by this gesture from Aeon, who is likely to sell around 2.5m kiwifruit or packs of kiwifruit during this period,' said Mr Dallas.
'Unfortunately Japan is connected to this tragedy through a number of Japanese people who were present in Christchurch at the time of the quake, some of whom are still missing, and our thoughts are also with their families and friends.'
He added: 'New Zealand is such a small place and it is highly likely that every New Zealander will know someone who has been impacted by this disaster in some form and this is why we are so humbled by the support from our international friends.'
Zespri's in-market teams in Asia and Europe are understood to be working with New Zealand Embassy staff around the world in support of the relief appeal.
The group is also providing redundant packaging, in particular used cartons, to supermarkets and collection points to assist with the collection of food and other items.
On Friday, 4 March, it will encourage staff to wear red and black and make a donation towards the fund.
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