Hayley Westenra Helps Christchurch

Hayley Westenra has just cancelled her planned New Zealand tour to stage a huge benefit concert to help her hometown Christchurch. Recently a 7.1 magnitude earthquake shook Christchurch, causing widespread damage and many fatalities. Prime Minister John Key stated that 22 February "may well be New Zealand's darkest day".

In a wonderful effort to help, the young New Zealand soprano will stage a huge benefit concert to help the survivors of the Christchurch earthquake. When the earthquake happened on 22 February shaking her hometown, Hayley was in London, but unable to contact her family for hours not knowing the extent of the tragedy.

She is now helping to plan a huge fundraising show in Auckland to raise monies for the stricken city. In another goodwill gesture, she intends to stage a free show for the people of Christchurch to boost morale. Hayley said, "As a Christchurch girl I am still in shock about what has happened to my beautiful home town. My heart breaks just thinking about those who have lost their lives and the families and friends that are now suffering. Putting on these concerts is the best way I know to help - it's my way of giving back to the city that means so much to me."

Following the release of her classical CD "Pure", in 2004, she became well-known worldwide. "Pure" became the fastest-selling international debut album in the history of the UK classical charts. So far more than two million copies of the CD have been sold. On the album is the New Zealand love song 'Pokarekare Ana, a song with enduring popularity which has become her "signature song".