"My brother worked in the Pyne Gould Guinness Building, also Marsh is in there, it so happened that when the earthquake struck he was out having a haircut," Richard's said.
"I understand the building is five stories high - it collapsed. There were 30 people missing when I received a text from him saying he's alive."
"When he came back the building was gone and he could hear people calling out."
He said his brother described a scene, "with the whole street full of business papers from the buildings."
Richard's said he is unaware of the fate of the PAA advisers in the area.
"I don't know quite frankly if any of them have been injured."
However, he had been able to speak to fellow board member Don Stewart who is based in Christchurch.
"He is not easily ruffled, but he said there is a lot of damage," Richards said.
He said the PAA had sent out a message to all members expressing sympathy to those in the region and their families, and asking if the organisation could be of any assistance.
"If there's anything the PAA office can do to help affected families please don't hesitate to contact us."
The shallow 6.3 earthquake hit 10km southeast of Christchurch just before 1pm and has been followed by constant aftershocks, some as powerful as magnitude five.
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