I do have to feel for the aussies on this one, at time of typing this there are 76 confirmed dead and small towns being wiped out.
I've been watching coverage on and off on Sky News, I noticed that infrasture there like phone, mobile and internet seemed to be fairly fragile like homes, heard one comment from a viewer the only outside link they had to the world was Mobile phone and satellite tv/radio for updates but I guess this is to be expected.
I do hope when John Key gets to work he will commit some NZ firefighters and aid to go help out.