Where are we working? Below are some of the suburbs where we’ve recommenced our work programme:
- North of Christchurch: including Kaiapoi and the greater Waimakariri District
- Northwest Christchurch: includes Riccarton, Upper Riccarton, Middleton, Oaklands, Halswell (north of Sparks and Halswell Junction Roads), Burnside, Bishopdale, Sockburn, Hornby and Russley
- Rural Canterbury: includes those outside zone properties across the plains from the outskirts of Christchurch, but currently excluding Halswell, Tai Tapu and Lincoln as more time is needed to assess these areas.
After the September earthquake we established a recovery team comprising key experts within our business and partners such as Hawkins, whose project management expertise is vital to the management of our repair and rebuild solution for Canterbury.
Immediately after the 22 February earthquake we diverted much of Hawkins’ resources into emergency repairs. This included securing windows, undertaking roof repairs and reinforcing walls in imminent danger of falling. The team’s focus was to make houses as safe, secure and watertight as possible until a full assessment and repairs could get underway.
Having completed emergency repairs we have now recommenced our work programme in the west, northwest and rural Canterbury. We have recommenced work in these areas as they are identified as having no land issues and minimal risk of aftershock damage; and we’re also working with the Waimakariri District Council in support of its building programme in Kaiapoi.
We are working with the Earthquake Commission, local councils and central government agencies in order to ensure we are able to process claims as quickly as possible, and provide the most up-to-date information.
We appreciate that large areas of Canterbury are not yet ready for repairs to commence and are committed to widening our areas of focus as more information becomes available and key decisions on land remediation are made.
If you have questions please call your claims case manager.
FAQs:
How are you prioritising who gets rebuilt first?
While we appreciate that everybody’s needs are just as important, we can’t get to everyone at once. We have many claims lodged with us and new claims being received every week, which still require assessment. It’s also important to remember the scale of the event – the volume of claims means we have to prioritise claims by location, focusing first on those with uninhabitable homes. Other factors like those who are elderly or impaired and families with young children will also be taken into account.
Within the areas where we can commence work (no land issues and minimal risk of aftershock damage); we’re prioritising claims for severe structural damage first, including homes that are uninhabitable, and businesses with building, plant and stock losses. Houses with minor or no structural damage will be prioritised as efficiently and effectively as possible.
What’s happening to contents and non-EQC claims?
Non-EQC claims will proceed in those areas where our work programme is recommencing. However, we recognise that some of our customers will have suffered significant contents losses and in these instances we can make emergency payments for those in need (even if they live outside the areas we’re currently working in). Please call your claims case manager.
Given the volumes of claims we’re receiving it could be a while before we get to contents and non-EQC claims. That’s why we’re encouraging customers to complete the forms in the Earthquake Claim Pack “Getting started on your contents claim and claims not covered by EQC”. The more information you can provide us now means we’ll have a head start when we get to your claim.
Get a copy of your Claim Pack here