The special insurance tribunal that will see the resolution of outstanding insurance claims arising from the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes has officially launched.
The Canterbury Earthquakes Insurance Tribunal will be a “circuit-breaker” for ongoing insurance disputes, according to Justice Minister Andrew Little. He noted the Wellbeing Budget allocated a total of $3.387 million for the establishment of a tribunal for the fiscal year 2019-2020.
“This is great news for the tired and frustrated Canterbury homeowners who are still waiting for a resolution to their insurance claims from these earthquakes,” Little said. “The tribunal gives flexibility.
“It will be a very human and accommodating process that gives us a much better chance of bringing resolution and conclusion to these difficult claims,” he noted.
With the launch of the tribunal, insurance cases can now be transferred from the High Court to the tribunal. The idea is that homeowners can choose to have a representative to receive communications for them, an advocate who can speak on their behalf, and a support person to accompany them to all tribunals at conferences and hearings.
The tribunal is located in Christchurch and is chaired by former District Court Judge Chris Somerville. He also chaired the Land Valuation Tribunals for North Canterbury (which includes Christchurch), South Canterbury and Westland.
“All parties participating in the tribunal – homeowners and insurers alike – can feel confidence in the process, given Chris’s experience in insurance law and expertise in mediation,” Little added.
