The Star: July 28, 2016

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14 Thursday July 28 2016 follow us on facebook.com/riseupchristchurch The Star 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
The Star follow us on facebook.com/riseupchristchurch Thursday July 28 2016 15 ews Cantabrians Ball raises money for sick kids • By Gabrielle Stuart WHEN 12-year-old Grace spent two weeks in the United States, the thing that left her dumbstruck wasn’t Disneyland, the zoo or even the “tower of terror” roller coaster. It was stepping into the lobby of her hotel with its shiny black couches and big vases of flowers, and then into her own room upstairs that took her breath away. “Bright white walls and double beds, a desk and a private bathroom, which is pretty cool considering there are six kids in our family and one bathroom,” she said. She was one of 24 children with serious medical conditions who were sponsored by Koru Care to go on a two-week trip of a lifetime to the US three years ago. The charity aims to give children fun experiences which empower them, develop their social and life skills and allow them to “enjoy themselves as children should”. It is currently raising money to send another 24 children on a similar trip later this year. Grace said learning she had been chosen for the trip had been totally overwhelming, and she was so excited leading up to it she struggled to concentrate on school. “Instead of doing maths I doodled pictures of roller coasters,” she said. About $4000 is needed to send each child on the trip, which is raised through a series of fundraisers throughout the year. Koru Care Christchurch has reinvented its annual charity auction this year as “The Cantabrians Ball”, a black tie dinner, TRIP OF A LIFETIME: Grace was one of 24 children able to go on a twoweek trip to visit Disneyland and other theme parks in the US through Koru Care. ball and live auction raising money for the trip. About $120,000 is expected to be raised through the event, which would cover most of the cost of the trip. • The Cantabrians Ball will be held on August 13 at Whareora on Barbadoes St. Tickets to the black tie dinner, dance and auction cost $1950 for a table of 10, and are available from info@ korucare.org.nzom info@korucare.org.nz Smoking ban to be back at Hillmorton • By Gabrielle Stuart AN OVERTURNED ban on smoking at Hillmorton Hospital which was linked to a former patient’s suicide is set to be reintroduced. Smoking is currently allowed in the inpatient unit courtyards, but it is set to be banned everywhere on the grounds from January. Smoking was first banned at the hospital in 2010, but it was overturned after protests from patients. A former patient’s suicide was linked to the ban, as his mother said he stopped self-referring himself for treatment there because he wasn’t allowed to smoke. Canterbury University sociology professor Anne Scott said patients in mental health treatment were already under stress, and a ban would make it worse. She agreed helping patients to quit would be a good thing, but said a ban was the wrong way to do it. “If people are in hospital they’re not able to leave if they’re under the mental health act, so to try to make them quit that way is not the right way to go about it.” Canterbury District Health Board specialist mental health director of nursing Stu Bigwood said smoking was already banned at all other health board sites. He said the patients would be supported with free nicotine replacement therapy. “Mental health consumers already have poorer physical health outcomes compared to general population and as a health provider we are responsible for the promotion of a healthy environment for consumers, staff, and visitors.” An appeal against a smoking ban at the Waitemata District Health Board psychiatric units was taken to the High Court and the Court of Appeal, but it was dismissed in May. Mitsubishi Electric GE25 3.2kW includes FREE installation* $1,999* Mitsubishi Electric GE42 5.4kW includes FREE installation* $2,399* Mitsubishi Electric EF25 3.2kW includes FREE installation* $2,199* Choose from Black, White or Silver Mitsubishi Electric KJ50 5.8kW includes FREE installation* $3,349* Mitsubishi Electric FH50 Hypercore 6kW includes FREE installation* $3,299* Add WiFi control for just $199* *with every heatpump purchase Proud installers of Phone 0800 324 678 Call now for a free quote *includes cost of back to back install only, conditions apply
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The Star: July 28, 2016

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