On Thursday, several residents with quake-damaged homes staged a protest at Cranmer Square nearly seven years on from the Christchurch earthquake.
Their campaign, “Letterboxes - #7YearsOn,” aims to raise the profile of the thousands of unresolved insurance and EQC claims, some dating from the September 2010 quake.
Christchurch resident and campaign organiser Ali Jones said there was a sigh of relief for many when Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern vowed at Labour’s election launch, in Christchurch last August, to settle remaining earthquake claims quickly and cheaply; launch a royal commission of inquiry into the EQC; set up a tribunal to hear claims issues with EQC and private insurers; and establish a $1 million fund for test cases to clarify major legal advice to claimants.
“We also understand that time is needed to draft terms of reference for an inquiry into EQC, and that the wording of any declaratory judgment or test case to be filed takes time and exactness,” Jones said. “However, we believe there are things that can and should be done now and we are not seeing that.
The campaign’s concept is that people who want to show support, or who have unresolved insurance claims, can upload a photo of their letterbox on the campaign’s website or Facebook page.
“Behind every letterbox is a home, a family, people trying to live their lives as they wait for progress,” Jones noted. “They are essentially powerless in most cases,”
Campaign supporter Jo Petrie claims she is in limbo with her insurance company and has been for several years. Despite filing legal action last year, her whānau is still a long way off getting their life back, she added.
“Every day we live this ‘limbo loop’, as I call it. Every day we look forward to the day our policy is finally honoured,” Petrie said.
“The court process is exhausting, it’s expensive, and it’s slow, so for most people challenging their settlement is not even an option. The system needs to change so families can get a fair deal and see justice.”
According to the Letterboxes Campaign, the number of claims in litigation is at 521 and growing (as of February 01). Greater Christchurch Regeneration Minister Megan Woods recently stated that 3,000 EQC claims remain unresolved, it said.
“For those 3,000 claims, and the thousands of others still not visible, we believe there must be an audit of all EQC repaired homes, with an independent body triaging the claims and botched repairs effectively and correctly,” Jones added.
“As for insurers, we need the promised tribunal operating now and a special earthquake court that runs day and night. Long term we must put in place legislation that compels insurers to settle in a reasonable timeframe. Almost a decade is not reasonable in anyone’s book.”
As insurance professionals in New Zealand what is your response to this campaign? Do you agree with the protestors or take issue with their claims? We’d love to hear your thoughts – just leave a comment below.
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