Richie's On It: Ex-All Blacks Hero Skipper Joins Kiwi Earthquake Relief Effort

As New Zealand begins to recover from its most violent, and deadly, earthquake since the horrific 2011 Christchurch shake yesterday, there's one piece of news that will surely stir Kiwi hearts.

Former All Blacks legend Richie McCaw is helping out.

The 148-cap flanker, who retired last year after guiding New Zealand to its second straight World Cup victory, is a commercial helicopter pilot based out of Christchurch – and has been flying rescue crews into the heavily damaged areas in North Canterbury

An ANC news story on the New Zealand earthquake yesterday. Source: Youtube.

The 7.5 magnitude earthquake killed two people, and caused widespread tsunami warnings both the North and South Islands.

McCaw has faced criticism for his post-rugby life, regarding his embrace of corporate sponsorship and lack of voice on the serious matters dogging New Zealand rugby culture this year.

But while being a commercial chopper pilot is now actually is job, you can't fault his eagerness to help out rescue efforts.

The ex-All Blacks skipper went straight into action the morning after the quake, by flying two search and rescue teams to the heavily-damaged town of Kaikoura.

"From there we took the Fire Service just north and south of Kaikoura to check out all the slips and make sure everyone was accounted for," McCaw told the New Zealand Herald.

McCaw said that from his chopper's cockpit, he saw massive cracks in roads and hillsides, as well as slips.

"At one point, the railway was way out over the sea – it had been pushed out by the slips. It would not have been a nice place to be at midnight last night."

An Associated Press video clip showing three cows stranded by the New Zealand earthquake yesterday. Source: Youtube.

Laconic as ever, McCaw played down his contributions to the Herald.

"Just from a selfish point of view, it's nice to be able to fly but you'd like to be able to do it in better circumstances," he said.

Active sportspeople were more directly affect by the earthquake in New Zealand yesterday.

A Plunket Shield first-class cricket match between Wellington and Central Districts was put on hold for a day, as engineers checked the stands at the Basin Reserve for their safety following the shake. They have been deemed safe, and play will continue tomorrow.

What happened to the 2 cows & a calf stranded by the — DaniellaPets (@denisepets)November 14, 2016

In Christchurch, the first test of the Kiwi summer, staring against Pakistan at Hagley Oval on Thursday, is set to continue despite the earthquake.

Pakistan flew into Christchurch yesterday after being awoken by the shake in their hotel in Nelson, where they were preparing for the test series.

It's understood some Pakistan players weren't keen to return to the upper stories of their hotel afterwards – instead sleeping in the lobby, on the ground floor.

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New Zealand seamer Matt Henry was awoken by the earthquake in Christchurch, describing it as "scary."

"I was just laying in bed and woke up to quite a long rumble, so a bit scary," he told Stuff.

"Obviously my heart goes out to everyone in North Canterbury and everyone that's dealing with quite a tough day."