It could be up to 18 months before 660 Christchurch homeowners know who will pay for earthquake damage repairs with a $1 billion price tag. The bill to fix houses in Christchurch that weren't repaired properly the first time round, or have suffered more damage in aftershocks, is climbing - and the government can't say who's liable. The problem is the homes have new owners who can't claim on theri insurance because the damage pre-dates them owning the home. Earlier Greater Christchurch Regeneration Minister Megan Woods told us the previous National government put no plan in place, and the current government is being left to pick up the pieces. Former Christchurch earthquake recovery minister Gerry Brownlee disputes the issue.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch Earthquake. A massive 7.4 magnitude earthquake has hit Christchurch and the wider South Island, causing widespread damage, two serious injuries and power cuts to most of the city. Marsha Witehira had the bricks from the wall of her house fall onto her bed where she was sleeping. Both sides of her house have collapsed. Witehira (L) is comforted by a friend".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch Earthquake. A massive 7.4 magnitude earthquake has hit Christchurch and the wider South Island, causing widespread damage, two serious injuries and power cuts to most of the city. Marsha Witehira had the bricks from the wall of her house fall onto her bed where she was sleeping. Both sides of her house have collapsed. Witehira (R) is comforted by a friend".
Low tide on the Avon River at New Brighton/Bexley. Note the original bank and the rock wall slipage on right. The white additions were added in March and April 2011 to protect the properties behind from flooding. Ultimately this area was "red zoned" with all houses removed or to be removed and the ground left till a rehabilitation method can ...
A Christchurch homeowner in a five year battle with the Earthquake Commission over the damaged house she unwittingly bought says a critical new report about EQC tells her nothing new. The 27 page review by Independent Ministerial Advisor Christine Stevenson looks at how to resolve the 3,600 claims that still haven't been settled after the 2010 and 2011 quakes. The recommendations include getting the Commission to hire more staff and to stop forcing people to use the Official Information Act to get their files. It also suggests giving EQC more power to settle the on-sold claims where people bought houses under the impression all damage had been identified and fixed. Georgina Hannafin has a home that needs $260,000 worth of repairs but EQC has offered her just $48,000.
Some of Christchurch's earthquake damaged red-zone land is another step closer to having some long term decisions made about its future. Today the Minister of Greater Christchurch Regeneration, Megan Woods, formally handed over ownership of 70 hectares of land to the Christchurch City Council. The land gifted to the council is in the coastal suburbs of Southshore, South Brighton and Brooklands, where residents have been waiting almost a decade to find out what the future holds for their area. Rachel Graham reports
Broken windows on Leicester House. Broken filing cabinets and other fittings lie on the ground in front of the building. The photographer comments, "As you can see the game did not last very long".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Transpacific staff donate to a relief fund to help other staff after the earthquake. Tom Nickels, managing director of Transpacific Industries Group NZ (left), with Dave and Kathy Youngman, whose house in Kaiapoi was damaged".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Nickie McFedries has had a bad run. Her Brittan Terrace house in Lyttelton has suffered extensive earthquake damage and now vandals have smashed up her car in the early hours of this morning".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Transpacific staff donate to a relief fund to help other staff after the earthquake. Tom Nickels, managing director of Transpacific Industries Group NZ (left), with Dave and Kathy Youngman whose house in Kaiapoi was damaged".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Maarten Schaap with his campervan which he and his family live in after their house was damaged in the quake, he lives at the end of the fault line where all the aftershocks are located".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Barry Tutt, chairman of the Bexley Residents Association in front of his Otakaro Place $380,000 house which looks intact on the outside but is considerably damaged internally in that it is to be demolished".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Aftermath of the earthquake in Christchurch where the cleanup has begun. Many of the residents of Seabreeze Close and neighbouring streets are packing up because of severe damage. Tony Saunders built many of the houses in the area".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Aftermath of the earthquake in Christchurch where the cleanup has begun. Many of the residents of Seabreeze Close and neighbouring streets are packing up because of severe damage. Annette Preen in her Seabreeze Close house filled with silt".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Barry Tutt, chairman of the Bexley Residents Association in front of his Otakaro Place $380,000 house which looks intact on the outside but is considerably damaged internally in that it is to be demolished".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Aftermath of the earthquake in Christchurch where the cleanup has begun. Many of the residents of Seabreeze Close and neighbouring streets are packing up because of severe damage. Tony Saunders built many of the houses in the area".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Barry Tutt, chairman of the Bexley Residents Association in front of his Otakaro Place $380,000 house which looks intact on the outside but is considerably damaged internally in that it is to be demolished".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Barry Tutt, chairman of the Bexley Residents Association in front of his Otakaro Place $380,000 house which looks intact on the outside but is considerably damaged internally in that it is to be demolished".
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