New Zealand Embassy Seoul, South Korea

Mayor of Christchurch City addresses Humanitarian Assistance Conference

From left: General Kwon Oh Sung - Deputy Commander CFC, Ambassador Patrick Rata, General James D. Thurman, and Mayor Bob Parker

On 10 May 2012, the Mayor of Christchurch City, Bob Parker, delivered a keynote address at the 2012 Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Conference, held at Ewha Womans University, Seoul. He gave a moving account of the impact of the violent earthquake which struck Christchurch in February 2011 and offered a Mayor's perspective of the challenges of responding to natural catastrophes. General James D. Thurman, Commander of United Nations Command and United States Forces Korea, also addressed the Conference.