Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Disabled people return to quake city

Updated at 2:21 pm on 30 March 2011

Health officials says 40 disabled people evacuated from Christchurch after the earthquake in February have returned to the city.

The Ministry of Health says 260 mostly intellectually disabled people had to be relocated after the powerful quake on 22 February because of damage to residential care facilities.

The ministry's group manager of disability support services, Anne O'Connell, says they were sent to other parts of the South Island first, and about 100 went to North Island facilities.

Ms O'Connell says a fantastic reponse from the sector meant the shift ran smoothly and about 40 people have already returned.

Copyright © 2011, Radio New Zealand