The Star: November 16, 2017

26
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Thursday November 16 2017
Viewpoint
Urgent need for EQC inquiry
THIS WEEK, it was a real
pleasure to visit Kaikoura on
the one year anniversary of last
year’s devastating earthquake.
As someone who’s been
through it myself, I know it’s a
day of mixed emotions. There’s
grief for what has been lost, a
sense of hope for the future and
a bit of awe when you reflect at
what you and your community
have got through together.
As Minister responsible for
EQC, I spent much of the day
talking to people on the ground
who are still going through the
EQC and insurance process.
I wanted to reiterate our
Government’s support for them
and to let them know we are
doing everything possible to help
Kaikoura recover and help them
move forward.
Overall, we are making good
progress in getting people
settled. At the end of October, 91
per cent of all claims have been
assessed, with 65 per cent of all
building claims, 92 per cent of all
contents claims and 93 per cent
of all land claims being settled.
But for those whose claims
are still outstanding, the stories
I heard were all too familiar
– people feeling trapped and
unable to move on with their
lives.
As Minister, my priority is
getting those people sorted as
quickly as possible. That’s where
the work of the Residential
Advisory Service is so important.
THe RAS is a special service
set up in 2013 that helps people
navigate insurance and EQC
claims – often acting as case
managers to explain the process,
advocate for people and bring
the different people involved
together.
It’s helped resolve thousands
of claims since it was established
in 2013. What I heard loud and
clear from people yesterday
is that the RAS has been an
absolute godsend. One woman
told me she’d been at her wits’
end before she’d spoken to them
and that their help had kept her
going.
In the next few weeks, we’ll be
looking at ways to make sure this
important service is still available
for people. For me, these stories
also reinforce why we so urgently
need an independent inquiry
into EQC – to learn the lessons
from these events and making
sure we do better for people in
the event of future disasters.
Our Government knows we
owe it to the people who have
been through so much to make
sure their experience is heard
and the system is improved.
That’s why we’ll be working on
getting that inquiry under way as
soon as possible.
•Megan Woods is
the Minister of Greater
Christchurch Regeneration
•From page 25
Hamish Middleton – If
they are youth, they should all
get a minimum of six months
home detention with curfews,
non-association with each other.
Robyn Rodgers – Just
unbelievably disgusting – name
and shame.
The city council has
implemented stricter
maintenance standards
and GPS tracking of
roading contractors to
improve the quality of
the city’s streets and
footpaths
Greg Scott – We should
look at something similar for
ratepayers to monitor councillors,
especially for decisionmaking
to improve their current
state.
Peter Cooper – This should
have been done long ago. The
council should have been out
there inspecting the work done
by the contractors . . . Even the
new motorway is rough and
not as smooth as is should be or
could be. Give it a month or two
and it will need repairs.
Debra Savage – What a
joke, Hills Rd has been dug up
so many times it’s a dam joke, as
Local
News
Now
The Star
Fire rages, homes at risk
POOR: Roading contractors
now have to meet stricter
standards for maintenance
in a bid to improve the
condition of the city’s roads.
PHOTO: MARTIN HUNTER
are many roads around Chch.
The whole of Slater St needs resurfacing,
they come out when
the holes are big enough to hide
a cat in and, in the next rain, it’s
back just like our rates demand.
Tess Lenihan – I also love
that for about the last three
months, there is an ‘Uneven
Surface’ sign on Brougham St.
From what I can tell, there must
be a spring there as the road is
always wet. So instead of fixing
it, they are just leaving a sign
up. Going to be “funny” when a
truck falls in a sink hole.
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