News archive by Category

Homeowners struggling with Earthquake Commission claims get welcome news

More than 3500 homeowners are still struggling with unsettled Earthquake Commission (EQC) claims.

Everyone Welcome

Len Lye Biography – PDF Link  

New Christchurch Rebuild Minister wants EQC royal commission

The new Christchurch rebuild minister is determined to see a royal commission of inquiry into defective Earthquake Commission (EQC) repairs.

Southern ­Response aftershock

The NZ Herald is reporting that Southern ­Response, the Government-owned company settling AMI's earthquake claims, has kept information from customers. The article reports that in some cases the withholding of "hidden" DRA's has resulted in lower settlement payouts.

Lawyer Today Files Multiple Claims in the High Court Against EQC For Botched Repairs

That’s how Lawyer Andrew Hooker describes the issue of houses with failed EQC repairs, owned by people who did not own them at the time of the repairs.
 
Shine Lawyers have today filed in the High Court a number of separate claims against the Earthquake Commission on behalf of people who have purchased houses that they subsequently discovered, were not properly repaired by EQC. Mr Hooker says this is different to most of the cases that have been filed to date because those are brought ...

Aftershock: The debacle of shoddy Christchurch earthquake repairs

By Kurt Bayer, NZ Herald 

Eleventh hour change by IAG over Christchurch quake deadline

Hundreds of Christchurch residents with quake damaged homes could be caught out after IAG revealed it is going to apply a statute of limitations defence against future claims, starting from tomorrow. 

Important date looms for home owners with outstanding Christchurch earthquake claims

Saturday August 21, 2017

The future of Cathedral Square?

Regenerate Christchurch has recently released a draft plan outlining the potential future shape of Cathedral Square. Changing the Square from one large space into three greened interconnected places, each with their own purpose and character, is one of the draft concept’s key ideas.

The hell of being stuck in EQC limbo in a sleepout in winter with two young children

VICKI ANDERSON. Last updated 09:49, July 8 2017. Stuff.

Time running out for earthquake claimants to litigate against insurers: advisory service

The Residential Advisory Service (Ras) is telling earthquake claimants to get in before it is too late. Some insurers can claim their Limitations Act defence against litigation as of September 4. A Ras spokesman said claimants still dealing with EQC should contact their private insurer if there was even a chance their claim could go over cap......

Southern Response to Step in on EQC Botched Repairs

Desirable design and unique artwork are hallmarks of the new Crowne Plaza Christchurch

Release: Crowne Plaza Christchurch

EQC has acknowledged it got the repairs wrong, but won't help fix it

The Press, June 1 2017

Christchurch's derelict residential homes: the dirty 30's suburban counterparts

Growing public frustration saw Christchurch City Council launch a clean-up of derelict buildings in the central city this week.

EQC repair nightmare for Christchurch family's burnt and quake-hit home

The Press, May 22 2017

House must be repaired or demolished after major repairs done without building consent

The Press, May 19 2017

Christchurch couple's earthquake repairs seemed fast, then started going wrong

The Press, May 18 2017

Repair nightmares: Can property buyers trust earthquake repair sign-offs?

The Press, May 17 2017

It takes a disaster for property purchasers to take notice of land hazard risk, study finds

Property purchasers may be under-informed about the exposure of a property to damage by a natural disaster, according to researchers from RMIT University. 

A new study that looked at house prices in Christchurch before and after the 2011 earthquake suggested that it takes a highly destructive event for disaster risk to be accounted for in house prices.

Repair nightmares: The 'six-week' earthquake repair, five years later

The Press, May 15 2017

Dynamic geometry: Chapel Street Centre

One of the challenges for architects – working within the constrained budgets that post-quake Christchurch frequently presents – is to create safe, functional buildings that also include some architecture. Where do you prioritise modest finances to achieve an enlightened architectural solution?

Start of construction of East Frame homes rounds out first year for Ōtākaro Limited

Activist Erin Brockovich compares central Christchurch to war zone

Erin Brockovich is in Christchurch to talk to earthquake insurance claimants on her first visit to New Zealand.

Students sing the praises of new O House accommodation

Release: Ara

Rivers, mountains and plains: Christchurch Convention Centre

Ōtākaro Limited has today released preliminary design images of the Christchurch Convention Centre. Architects  has worked on the design with .

It’s no April Fool’s Joke – Insurers Censoring Information Provided to Kaikoura Earthquake Claimants

The Kaikoura District Council has removed the more than one hour long video of the eqcfix.nz presentation made to around 100 people in Kaikoura on the 23 March.

Experts share advice for navigating quake claims

THE PRESS - PIPPA BROWN

Linking urban tactics to strategy

Urban regeneration organisation , which rose to prominence in the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquakes in 2010 and 2011, will hold a workshop in Brisbane on 23 March as part of the Asia Pacific Architecture Forum 2017. The workshop aims to “equip participants with practical and strategic approaches that they can bring to their own urban and community challenges.”

Western Pacific Insurance policy holders get pay out

Western Pacific Insurance policy holders get pay out

Port Hills Fire - Christchurch Civil Defence Updates

Christchurch Civil Defence Update #11 Thursday 16 February 2017 Update on Port Hills Fire 8.15am

Northern Design Precinct

Check out the Design Hub popping up in the Village!  

The back story to the legal action IAG and Tower have launched against EQC

How EQC has avoided being stung by rising land values; Cameron Preston has the back story to the IAG and Tower have launched against EQC

Students design 130 metre mural for East Frame

Students aged between four and 15 from two Christchurch schools have designed a 130 metre mural to help bring to life the East Frame while construction of the public space is carried out.

Work on East Frame Residential Development to begin early 2017

Construction of the first apartments in the East Frame Residential Development will begin in late March/early April 2017.

Private insurers to handle EQC November quake claims

THE PRESS, 13 DEC 2016

$85 MILLION HOTEL AND CARPARK DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCED

More good news for the central city of Christchurch and the tourism industry with confirmation of plans for a new $85million dollar hotel and carpark development in Peterborough Street.

Safety Potentially Compromised in Wellington Buildings

Bill English & Paula Bennett - Govt proposes social housing transfer in Christchurch

Making an EQC Claim What you Need to Know

Building inspections and EQC claims in Kaikoura

Read the article here: 

Tips from Christchurch quake survivors on how to deal with EQC

Read the article here: 

Insurers offer help in making earthquake claims to EQC

Tower Insurance has offered to help policyholders make their claims to the EQC in the aftermath of that shakes that began in the early hours of Monday morning.

Blow for Christchurch homeowners as EQC refuses to pay for alternative accommodation

Watch here: https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/blow-christchurch-homeowners-eqc-refuses-pay-alternative-accommodation

Insurers settle $19 billion Canterbury claims

The Insurance Council of New Zealand announced today that private insurers have paid out nearly $19 billion to settle commercial and residential claims since the Canterbury earthquakes in 2010 and 2011, of which nearly $9 billion was for domestic claims.

Backlog of defective buildings and shoddy workmanship sparks calls for building warranties

In August last year, the Government released its findings after investigating unconsented earthquake repairs.  A third of those repairs were not compliant with the building code.

Southern Response Announces Construction Deadline

Southern Response Announces Construction Deadline for Final Stages

Johnny Moore: East Frame stall another broken promise

OPINION: This week's news that another large for an undefined period is no good.

Work starting on East Frame public space

This week Ōtākaro Limited begins work on what will be the third largest park in central Christchurch – the East Frame public space.

EQC defective repairs surpass 10,000, but figure not publicised

THE PRESS
October 10 2016

The battle with EQC still rages

People in the North Island, quite sincerely, often ask me how we are getting on now that the earthquakes have stopped.

Tone deaf exit of EQC boss Ian Simpson hits the wrong note

In the news that Earthquake Commission (EQC) chief executive Ian Simpson would be leaving his job at the end of the year, one word shone like a beacon.

Garry Moore: The battle with EQC still rages

People in the North Island, quite sincerely, often ask me how we are getting on now that the earthquakes have stopped.

Regenerate Christchurch signals approach to residential red zone

Regenerate Christchurch has today signaled its approach for identifying the long-term use of land that has been zoned red in the Christchurch district.

Collusion between Christchurch City Council, the EQC and insurers?

Empowered Christchurch recently wrote to the Office of the Ombudsman, calling for an investigation into the practices of the Christchurch City Council since the earthquakes. An excerpt from the letter is included below.

EQC confirms major downsizing of Canterbury operations

The Earthquake Commission (EQC) has confirmed it will slash its Canterbury workforce by about a third, but the number of remaining staff will be higher than originally thought.

EQC confirms major downsizing of Canterbury operations

The Earthquake Commission (EQC) has confirmed it will slash its Canterbury workforce by about a third, but the number of remaining staff will be higher than originally thought.

Canterbury social housing programme book launched

Press Release: Housing New Zealand

EQC looking to cash settle remaining remedial work

The Earthquake Commission (EQC) wants Canterbury customers to accept cash settlements, leaving homeowners to fix shoddy repair work, Labour says.