MEDIA RELEASE – for Immediate Release

25 February 2011

Quake-fix website - 1-stop shop for emergency work

Cantabrians needing peace of mind around accessing competent and qualified local professionals to assess the immediate safety of their property can visit a one-stop website set up after the September quake.

The earthquakeFIX web portal (www.earthquakeFIX.co.nz) is a collaborative initiative between 21 national membership organisations, launched over concerns that quake victims were under threat from profiteering unqualified operators.

“We’d like to assure Cantabrians that the earthquakeFIX site is still very much up and running,” says NZ Contractors’ Federation Chief Executive Jeremy Sole.

Expert advice can be found for structural and electrical emergency assessments and stablilisation and for making homes safe and weather tight and to prevent further damage. Call Earthquake Commission first to get a claim number.

Derek Baxter, CEO of Certified Builders, says the website provides an assurance of quality local service.

“Anyone using the website can be confident that companies they source from it will be professional, competent and fair service providers who traditionally operate in Canterbury.”

The site quickly attracted widespread support in September, with Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker, the Insurance Council of NZ, NZTE’s Industry Capability Network, the Property Council, the Construction Industry Council, Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commerce and the Building Research Association of NZ (BRANZ) all endorsing the move.

Each of the 21 participating organisations is a national representative body with specified entry criteria including peer review and a strong set of rules and code of ethics.

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