Amy in Action - Earthquake Update
Rapid Assessments
The EQC rapid assessment teams are well underway in Halswell and Governors Bay and have been completed in Westmorland. The team will visit the remaining affected parts of Selwyn within the next 6 weeks. You do not need to do anything and do not need to be home when a rapid assessment team visits. They will leave you a notice of assessment once they have been. Full assessments will be prioritised by the level of need identified in the rapid assessment for those who have lodged an EQC claim and are insured.
Houses with severe structural damage will be revisited for a full assessment within 4 months, houses with minor structural damage will be revisited for a full assessment within 4-6 months, and houses with no structural damage will be revisited for a full assessment within 6-9 months.
THOSE IN SELWYN WHO HAVE NOT YET BEEN ASSESSED FOLLOWING THE SEPTEMBER EARTHQUAKE WILL BE PART OF THE RAPID ASSESSMENT PROCESS AND THEIR FULL ASSESSMENT WILL BE PRIORITISED AS ABOVE.
The rapid assessment is a very brief triage of the damage to your home and will not identify everything. If you believe your home is significantly more damaged than the rapid assessment identified then you can request a further quick assessment with you at home by contacting EQC on 0800 326 243.
If your house requires emergency repairs and will cost less than $2000 to repair you can organise for those repairs to be completed straight away. You need to keep photographic evidence and invoices for repairs to make sure you are reimbursed appropriately.
For those with more seriously damaged homes requiring emergency repairs you should contact EQC immediately and they will arrange their own contractors to complete those repairs.
Winter Heat
If your house repairs are to be managed by Fletchers (between $10,000 – $100,000 in value) and your chimney has been damaged you are eligible for the Winter Heat programme.
Fletcher EQR is helping to manage repairs to deal with winter heating needs resulting from earthquake damage. Homes needing winter heating are being identified through claims received from EQC and from direct contact with home-owners.
Priority will be given to:
Chimneys that are in imminent risk of collapse
Medical needs
Vulnerable (young or elderly)
Primary source of heat has been lost
If you are in this category you can contact the Clean Heat Hub on 343 4891 or email heating@eqr.co.nz
An extension to the business and employment assistance for Canterbury
The current Earthquake Support package for Christchurch and Selwyn businesses and workers launched last month has been extended.
Both the Earthquake Support Subsidy for employers and the Job Loss Cover for workers will be extended until 18 April, followed by a second round of assistance with tighter application criteria.
Following the extension of the Earthquake Support package, those businesses which are currently receiving the Earthquake Support Subsidy, and which remain viable but need short-term support, will be eligible to apply for the second round of the Earthquake Support Subsidy.
There will also be an exceptions process for those businesses that do not meet the tightened criteria, but which can demonstrate a strong case for limited additional support.
Those businesses qualifying for the second round of the Earthquake Support Subsidy will receive payments at gradually-reducing rates each fortnight over the six-week period.
The second round of the Subsidy will, for the first fortnight, stand at the current rate of $500 gross per week for full-time employees, and $300 for part-time employees. This will reduce to $375 and $225 (part-time) for the second fortnight, and $250 and $150 (part-time) for the third fortnight.
Job Loss Cover for those workers who lost their job immediately after the earthquake will be extended until April 18. After that date, an Individual Support Payment will be introduced for six weeks, which will essentially be a top-up in addition to the unemployment benefit.
New authority created for Canterbury rebuild
The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) will be established as a stand-alone government department to enable an effective, timely and co-ordinated rebuilding and recovery effort in Canterbury.
CERA will have a lifespan of five years and its operations will be reviewed annually.
Rebuilding Christchurch and the wider region following the earthquakes is one of the government's highest priorities and are committed to providing the necessary resources to make this happen over the coming weeks, months and years.
CERA will support the Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Gerry Brownlee to get the job done, in close collaboration with local councils and local communities.
Shoe Boxes of Love
I’m part of an initiative to put a smile on the faces of those worst affected by the earthquake called Shoeboxes of Love. Donors put together a shoe box of goodies designed to cheer someone up – maybe a mum, dad, young child, teenager or a family group – they are collected at my office until the end of April and then distributed by Rotary to those in the most need. You can fill the boxes with any non-perishables you like but for ideas or to learn more have a look at www.shoeboxesoflove.org.nz.
It has certainly been a tough couple of months in Canterbury and we have a long road ahead but we need to stay positive and keep helping each other and we will get through this.
As always, if I can help then please do let me know.
Amy Adams MP
For more information, please visit my website www.amyadams.co.nz
You are welcome to email me at amy.adams@parliament.govt.nz
Parliamentary Office
Parliament Buildings, Wellington
Ph: +64 4 817 8225
Fax: +64 4 473 0469
email: amy.adams@parliament.govt.nz
