Nor'West News: July 26, 2016

NOR’WEST NEWS Tuesday July 26 2016 13
EQC UPDATE KEEPING YOU INFORMED | JULY 2016
February 2016
earthquake
response
With each natural disaster, EQC has increasingly listened
to customer feedback to improve how it works, says
EQC February 2016 Event Manager, Jayne Lapin.
“For the February 2016 earthquakes we are emailing a
survey to customers to complete two weeks after their claim
resolution to gauge potential areas for improvement.
To date, most customers have said their experience of the
new EQC process was positive or very positive,” she said.
EQC has taken a different approach to finalising the 13,985
claims lodged by customers following the Canterbury
earthquakes of 14 and 29 February, 2016, and the
aftershocks through March and June. To date EQC has paid
over $7.8 million to customers for damage claims.
EQC is reverting back to cash settlements as there is no
managed repair programme. EQC aims to complete
assessments for these events sooner, where possible,
using a claims management approach that EQC customers
helped design. EQC aims to resolve all claims for these
2016 Christchurch events by the end of December.
“One way to achieve this is by phoning customers to get all
the relevant information up front, before conducting
assessment. For many claims, damage assessment is done
over the phone. At its heart is the drive to make EQC easier
to do business with,” Miss Lapin says.
This differed from the 2010/2011 Canterbury claims, largely
because earthquake damage incurred in 2016 quakes was
minor. Customer payments are averaging $1,000 to $5,000
per claim. Only two claims were up to $50,000, and no
claims to date have gone over the EQC cap.
Seismic monitoring on Mt Ruapehu
Marking
GeoNet’s 15th
birthday
A message from Dr Hugh Cowan,
General Manager Reinsurance,
Research and Education
This month, GeoNet is celebrating its
15th anniversary. Most Cantabrians will be
familiar with the GeoNet app which provides
instant information about quakes and
volcanic activity.
GeoNet uses a network of over 600 sensors
across New Zealand to detect, analyse and
respond to earthquakes, volcanic activity
and other geological hazards. It was
established in 2001 as a collaboration
between EQC as investor and GNS as
technical manager.
Over the years, GeoNet has been recognised
internationally as at the leading edge of
natural hazards monitoring, which is a
significant bonus for New Zealand given the
dynamic nature of our region.
Canterbury’s proximity to the Alpine Fault
means that it has a large number of sensors.
The start of the Canterbury earthquake
sequence triggered further expansion of this
network, ultimately making the February
2011 earthquake one of the most
comprehensively recorded earthquakes in
urban history.
The quantity of GeoNet data has delivered
significant benefits for Canterbury, not least
in enabling decisions relating to building
reconstruction, engineering, the behaviour
of the land, and reinsurance to be informed
by science.
Such a wide range of applications in
Canterbury exemplifies the benefits of EQC’s
investment which requires GeoNet to make its
data publicly and freely available. GeoNet’s
growing and diverse community of users
extends well beyond EQC and GNS. Land
surveyors, airline pilots, power and water
companies and local government all use
GeoNet data in different ways.
EQC is proud to have maintained such a
long-term and successful partnership with
GNS, providing GeoNet with around $12m
a year. Late last year, we committed funding
through to 2021 as part of our research and
education programme.
EQC awarded
costs from
Action Group
The Earthquake Commission welcomes
the High Court’s recent costs decision
which orders the EQC Action Group to pay
costs of $4,237 to EQC.
The costs decision was issued following the
discontinuation of the Action Group’s
declaratory judgment application. The Action
Group sought a series of declarations in
relation to the obligations of the Commission
under the EQC Act.
Chief Executive Ian Simpson says the costs
decision reaffirms EQC’s position that
litigation was an unnecessary way to address
the specific issues concerning the Action
Group members’ claims.
Mr Simpson says that EQC remains completely
focussed on settling outstanding claims in
Canterbury including those of EQC Action
Group members. “Any customer can request a
review of their individual claim if they believe
EQC has missed earthquake damage
sustained to their home, if they don’t agree
with the proposed repair strategy, or if they
believe the settlement amount is incorrect.
The process for this is detailed on our website
and EQC continues to work with our
customers so they receive what they are
entitled to and have their claims resolved.”
Customers wanting to have their claim
reviewed can call 0800 326 243 (0800
DAMAGE) or email info@eqc.govt.nz or visit
www.eqc.govt.nz/about-eqc/makecomplaint.
In such situations you should
provide us with details supporting your
request for a claim review, together with any
information you have obtained in support of
your request.
Support agencies
for customers
EQC continues to work with customer advisory
agencies to progress the settlement of customer claims,
and answer customer queries.
Residents can continue to be supported through:
• Residential Advisory Service, 0800 777 299
• Canterbury Earthquake Temporary Accommodation
Service, 0800 673 227
• Earthquake Support Coordination Service,
0800 777 846
• EQC, 0800 DAMAGE (0800 326 243)
• Or your individual insurer.
ILV community
meetings on
EQC invites you to attend one of our community
meetings for homeowners who have received an
Increased Liquefaction Vulnerability (ILV) land
damage settlement based on Diminution of Value.
The 90-minute meetings will feature:
• a presentation by EQC’s Head of Canterbury
Land, Keith Land, on overall approach for
settling ILV land damage; and
• a presentation by EQC’s valuers, on the
valuation assessments which underpin EQC’s
settlement decisions.
The presentations will be followed by a Q&A
session, which will allow you to put questions to
the presenters. Please note that the meetings are
not intended for discussion of individual claims.
All meetings will be held at Beulah Church,
140 Springfield Rd, St Albans at 7pm on the
following dates: Wednesday 27 July;
Monday 22 August; Wednesday 28 September;
Wednesday 26 October, and Wednesday
30 November.
How to register
Please register for a meeting:
• online at www.eqc.govt.nz/ILV
• emailing us at info@eqc.govt.nz; or
• phoning us on 0800 326 243
CONTACT EQC AT 0800 DAMAGE (0800 326 243) OR VISIT WWW.EQC.GOVT.NZ