The Earthquake Commission is to begin assessments of earthquake damaged houses outside Canterbury before Christmas, ahead of schedule.
The large earthquakes in September 2010, and February and June 2011, were felt widely and brought claims from well outside the hardest hit region of Canterbury.

EQC’s Canterbury Event Manager Reid Stiven says EQC has received about 2000 claims for damage from properties outside Canterbury, mainly in Otago.

“Assessment teams will begin assessments of houses from Invercargill to Marlborough as we seek to wrap up all South Island earthquake claims.

“Assessments were originally set to begin in early 2012, but I’m confident that with progress on Christchurch assessments so well advanced, assessors will be able to start visiting houses further afield before Christmas.

“Homeowners from outside Canterbury with claims have received a letter this week advising them that a member of our field staff will be in touch to organise an assessment. We are aware this call may come up at short notice, and would appreciate those homeowners making the property available to us.

“I would also like to thank South Islanders for their patience and understanding as we worked through the damage in Christchurch from multiple events before being able to reach areas further out from the epicentres of the past year’s quakes.”

Mr Stiven says he expects assessments outside Canterbury to be wrapped up by Christmas. EQC is also on target to complete the few thousand homes in greater Christchurch still to be assessed before Christmas.

For more information, contact:
Iain Butler, EQC Media Manager, 029 978 6430; ibutler@eqc.govt.nz