By Tim Saunders on
New Zealand-born singer Hayley Westenra is planning to stage a massive celebrity charity concert to raise funds for her hometown of Christchurch, which was devastated by a earthquake last month.
Around 200 lost their lives and thousands lost their homes and livelihoods during the quake.
The singer hopes to invite a plethora of international stars to take part in the concert, which will take place in Auckland in August.
“As a Christchurch girl I am still in shock about what has happened to my beautiful home town,” she said. "My heart breaks just thinking about those who have lost their lives and the families and friends that are now suffering.
“Putting on this concert is the best way I know to help – it’s my way of giving back to the city that means so much to me.
“Several hundred commercial buildings will have to be bulldozed and some areas of Christchurch will simply have to be abandoned – the earthquake has created liquefaction, when sections of earth push up to the surface, making it difficult to rebuild on the land.
“My family had one of the few working phone lines on their street immediately after the earthquake, and they made it available for neighbours to use. There have been countless examples of the community supporting each other. This event has brought out a lot of good in people.”
Westenra will also perform at the National Memorial planned for the city this Friday, which will also be attended by Prince William.
“It means so much that Prince William is this week visiting those affected by the recent tragedies in New Zealand and Australia,” she told Hello! magazine. “I’ve had the pleasure of meeting him a couple of times – he’s always very friendly and down-to-earth. I think it’s so honourable of him to be making this trip to New Zealand and Australia. I know that everyone will appreciate his support during this very difficult time.”
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