Partial “No-Rebuild” Talk by CERA Shows Conflicted Thinking

Tuesday, 7 February 2012, 1:48 pm
Press Release: Quake Outcasts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Partial “No-Rebuild” Talk by CERA Shows Conflicted Policy Thinking

Christchurch – In its latest briefing the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority again demonstrated conflicted policy thinking. It said it would rule out land repair in some red-zoned areas, while leaving open possibilities of remediation in other parts.

In making decisions such as land remediation Cera appears to have stepped over the bounds of a government agency and into the role of an insurance company and a land owner.

Is Cera acting as: (1) an independent government agency that is concerned about the physical safety of residents by making decisions on land zoning and land remediation, or as (2) an extension of the state-owned insurance company EQC by making such decisions for the economic interests of EQC?

The ‘partial no-rebuild’ talk by Cera clearly shows it is not solely concerned about safety. It admits that all land can be remediated at time and cost. Time and cost, are the concerns of the land owner and the insurers, including EQC.

If Cera is acting as an independent government agency, why does it not allow red-zoned homeowners to take their insurance money and then pay them market price to buy these red-zoned homes? Why the insistence on surrendering insurance policies to the crown?

It seems Cera is sending mixed messages.

On the one hand Cera tells residents to weigh their decisions based on insurance payout comparisons, and most importantly, not to make a rush decision.

On the other hand Cera would like people to believe its current buy-out offers are the best option. The language in the offers mildly threatens residents with lower prices for their red-zoned homes should they give the offer a pass.

What’s missing in this first part is that Cera omitted telling residents that they are also legally entitled to receive a land damage assessment from the other insurer, EQC, before making any decision.

EQC is obligated to provide assessments on land damage to a policy holder, but for many residents this has not happened.

Any homeowner who signed the Cera buy-out offer without first having an EQC land damage dollar value assessment made a blind decision and may be said to have made their decision to sell under duress, which would invalidate the sale.

ENDS

Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines

NEW ZEALAND POLITICS > >

Budget 2012: Prescription Charges Help Fund Health
Health Minister Tony Ryall has announced the Government will increase the $3 prescription charge to $5 per item up to a maximum of 20 items from 1 January 2013. The savings will be reinvested in the health sector. More >>
Also:

Announcement - PM's Post Cabinet Press Conference Held In Hospital
Gordon Campbell - On the Rise in Prescription Charges
Labour - User Pays Plan Confirms Failure
Otago University - Public Health Expert Questions Prescription Charge Move
Labour - Minister of Illness Misses the Mark
NZ First - Don’t Increase Prescription Charges
Govt - Budget 2012: $101m for Surgery, Cancer Services
Govt -Budget 2012: Prescription Charges Help Fund Health
Medicines New Zealand - Additional Investment in Health Welcomed
Cancer Society - Good News for Cancer Patients!
Pharmacy Guild - Payment Increase Expected
NZMA - Extra funding for Surgery, Cancer Services Welcomed

Court of Appeal: Govt Should Pay Family Caregivers

The victory in the Court of Appeal for families caring for disabled family members should be taken notice of by the Government says Green MP Catherine DelahuntyMore >>

ALSO:

NZ First - About Time For Landmark Disability Decision
Labour - Government Should Drop Legal Action and Support Carers

Warm Up: Insulation programme reaches 150,000 houses
The Government’s programme to help insulate New Zealand homes has now reached the milestone of 150,000 insulated homes, Energy and Resources Minister Phil Heatley announced today. More >>

Also:

Greens - Sensible Policy
Maori Party - Proud to celebrate success of the Warm Up NZ

Solid Energy: Pike River Mine Sold

Solid Energy has completed its due diligence and signed a full but still conditional sale and purchase agreement with the Receivers to buy the assets of Pike River Coal Limited (in Receivership). The agreement remains conditional on the transfer of permits and land access agreements.

In conjunction with this, Solid Energy has made clear commitments regarding recovery of the bodies of the 29 Pike River mine workers, and entered into an agreement with the Government that sets out the roles each will play... More >>

Also:

Receivers - Update Regarding the Sale of the Pike River Coal Mine
Govt - Pike River mine sale welcomed
Greens - Govt fails to honour Pike River promise

Business.Scoop - Solid Energy could pay up to $32.5 mln for Pike River
Labour - Trail of Broken Promises for Pike River Families

No Urewera Four Retrial

The "Urewera Four", Tame Iti, Rangi Kemara, Urs Signer and Emily Bailey, will not face retrial. In March the four remaining defendants in the Urewera case were found guilty of possessing firearms but the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the Section 98a charges of ‘Participation in an Organised Criminal Group. They were to be sentenced on the firearms offences later this month, however following the decision by the Solicitor General not to pursue a re-trial two of the defendants have now applied to have the firearms charges overturned.

October 15th Solidarity Movement - Urewera 4: State Nil "We are relieved," said Ana Cocker from the October 15th Solidarity Group in response to the announcement that the Urewera 4 will not be re-tried on Section 98a, 'Participation in an Organised Criminal Group.'More>>

BUDGET 2012: Extra Funding for Welfare Reforms
The Budget this month will provide $287.5 million over the next four years for the first phase of the Government’s welfare reforms to help more New Zealanders into work, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says. More >>

ALSO:

Maori Party -Environmental programme benefits schools
Govt - Enviroschools “future focus” the way forward says Flavell
Greens - Alternative Student Loan Repayment Solution
TEU - No money in budget, just shuffling and cuts
AUSA - Students deeply concerned at support cuts
Labour - Black Budget for Students
Govt - Budget 2012 – Sticking to a Plan That’s Working
NZ Govt - Budget 2012 will confirm surplus in 2014/15
Govt - John Key Pre-Budget Speech to Business New Zealand

Budget 2012: Education – Larger Classes For More Money
I’m here today to talk about our education plan. Education is a subject that’s dear to my heart and head - and indeed yours, as future employers and business associates of the generation of young New Zealanders who are coming through our education system ... More >>

ALSO:

Govt - Budget 2012: Extra $511.9 million for education
QPEC- Cream for Private Schools – Skim Milk for Public Schools
Principals Federation - Bigger Classes Blow for Battlers
Labour - Cuts to Classes Result of Government Failure
Principals' Federation - Education Wrong Place for Performance Pay

Industrial Relations: New Laws Proposed
Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson has announced a package of measures that will extend workers’ rights to request flexible working hours and ensure a fair and flexible collective bargaining environment. More >>

ALSO:

Govt - Improvements to Employment Law Announced
Labour - Employment Relations Don’t Have to be Lose-Lose
Labour - Call for Community to Lead Employment Debate
First Union - Employment Proposals Signal End to Catching up with Aust
Employers And Manufacturers Federation Employment Law Changes Positive
EPMU -No Surprises Over Government’s Law Change Agenda
CTU - Government Undermines Bargaining to Reduce Pay, Conditions

Christchurch: A State of Discontent
Jane Bowron, the Christchurch journalist who came to national prominence through her first-hand accounts of living through the earthquake and its aftermath, says dissatisfaction with the mayor and council is growing, and protests are likely to ... More >>

ALSO:

Awa Press - Christchurch protests for new leadership will continue
Campbell - On The Government Is Ducking Responsibility For The Needs Of Christchurch
Rutherford Foundation - New techniques used to investigate Port Hills rock falls
Cathedral - Mike Pero Urges Cantabrians to Save Christchurch Cathedral
CERA - The Cathedral File released to public
Outlink - Layton Duncan - The Facts About Christchurch Cathedral
Historic Places Trust - NZHPT Board calls for pause on Cathedral deconstruction
TV3 Video - Cathedral demolition has begun - The man behind the cardboard cathedral

Campbell: On the Politics of Austerity

Later this month, New Zealand will be subjected to its second austerity Budget in a row. Zero budgeting is being presented as the only path of virtue. This is despite the fact that - elsewhere in the real world - it has been a very bad week indeed for the politics of austerity.

Voters in France and Greece have just delivered a strongly negative verdict, based on experience, on the economic policies to which they have been subjected. ... More >>

COMMENTARY:

Binoy Kampmark - The European Elections: The Assault on Austerity
Keith Rankin - Greece, Germany and Euro: who are the bad guys?
OECD - Economy: Bigger Euro Bailout Funds Needed - OECD

Parliament Today: Gambling Bill’s Chaos
Parliament tied itself up in procedural knots last night over whether there should be a conscience vote over a gambling bill.
The Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill first reading was proceeding with most parties indicating support, when Labour’s Trevor Mallard suggested prior to the end of debate that individual MPs should cast conscience votes on the issue, instead of a party vote.
More >>

Also

Questions for Oral Answer: May 10 - Environment Commissioner Appointment - Conscience Vote Issue Ties MPs Up In Knots - Secret Ballot Bill Passes Into Law - Govt Attacked Over Record Emigration To Australia-Child Support Will Be More Balanced: Dunne - Questions and Answers: May 8 - Dotcom And Contraception - Petitions, Papers, Reports And Bills- Questions for Oral Answer: May 8 - Child Support And The IMF - Committee Chaos & Farmer Dissatisfaction - Govt Pressured On Banks-Dotcom Saga

Trade: TPP Copyright and Internet

InternetNZ Policy Lead Susan Chalmers will speak on New Zealand's three strikes copyright law before intellectual property negotiators for the Trans Pacific Partnership in Dallas

The Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a trade agreement being negotiated by New Zealand and eight other countries, including the United States...More >>

ALSO:

Alcohol Reform: Lobbyists Flock Ahead Of Debate
Salvation Army - The Government’s updated alcohol law reform proposals are little more than paying lip service to a problem that is wrecking lives and haemorrhaging billions of tax dollars. More>>

Also

Manuwera - Youth Council Supports Raising Alcohol Purchase Age to 20
Govt - Alcohol Bill Drives Change in NZ’s Drinking Culture
Christian Network - welcomes alcohol law proposals
Family First - Time For MP’s To Raise Drinking & Purchase Age

Partial “No-Rebuild” Talk by CERA Shows Conflicted Thinking

NEW ZEALAND POLITICS > >

ALSO:

Also:

No Urewera Four Retrial

TRIAL:

Trial Coverage/Summing Up:

REACTION:.

ALSO:

ALSO:

ALSO:

ALSO:

Campbell: On the Politics of Austerity

COMMENTARY:

ALSO:

Also

Get More From Scoop

LATEST HEADLINES

Politics Section Blogroll

Politics Blogs

Politics Info Websites

Newspaper Blogs

Politics Party Websites

Other Links

Scoop Newsagent


Search latest Jobs Positions $150k+ NZ Govt Jobs	Media & Ent. Jobs NZ IT Positions Salary Advice