For about 20 years Jenners has worked with Rotary International in NZ to collect, store & distribute the Rotary Emergency Response Kits which are a project supported by Rotary clubs throughout NZ. The Kits are completed by individual clubs and forwarded to Jenners who store them awaiting need arising from a disaster anywhere in the Pacific area. Jenners generally stores between 200 to 300 boxes, but the stock level varies as disasters occur.

Following the earthquake & tsunami, Ian Jenner (Managing Director of Jenners), on behalf of Rotary, contacted their Air New Zealand Sales Rep, Allan Tate, to enquire if Air NZ were able to supply space on their 777 aircraft which was making a special flight to Apia later that day. Allan confirmed that Air NZ would make a 10 cubic metre unit available - free of charge. The only problem was the unit had to be loaded and delivered to the Auckland airport terminal within one hour.

The required PMC unit was collected, the 92 boxes loaded onto the unit and netted down, customs clearance formalities completed and the unit was delivered to Air NZ within the one hour.

On arrival in Apia, the Emergency Response Kits were cleared by the Rotary Club of Apia and then distributed to needy families who had lost their possessions in the tsunami.

For further information, please contact Mr. Ian Jenners (ian@jenners.co.nz).