On Monday David Cunliffe and David Parker outlined a plan to kickstart the Canterbury recovery.
The first of Labour’s Canterbury policy announcements was aimed at allowing people to move on with their lives. After almost four years far too many are stuck in limbo fighting EQC or insurance companies, or dealing with repeated flooding.
Labour will set up a special Earthquake Court to cut through the huge backlog of insurance cases. All costs, including lawyers’ costs and expert witnesses’ fees, will be paid for by the Crown to reduce the burden on families trying to get their claim settled. The Crown will recoup those costs from the insurance companies and EQC as a levy in proportion to the size of the awards granted by the Court.
And Labour will ensure the government will pay its share to help protect homes that are suffering flooding due to the Canterbury earthquakes. If needed, we will amend the law to make it clear that EQC must pay for earthquake damage in the form of land subsidence or other geological changes, and we will make that law cover the Canterbury earthquakes.
The Christchurch Press described the plan as “bold“. Councillor and advocate Ali Jones supported the policy:
“To have a system available where people can take on the insurance sector and address this imbalance of power in some way to the little guy’s advantage, then I say bring it on.”
The policy was bold and well thought out after extensive discussion with legal experts and those who have struggled with EQC and Insurance issues.
The legal experts and community representatives in the room who I chatted with after the announcement described it as a “game changer” both politically and to get insurance and flooding issues sorted.
Labour has more excellent Canterbury policy to come on housing, transport, urban design, heritage, CERA and more. All aimed at kickstarting a slow and messy recovery and giving people hope. The people of Canterbury will have a distinctive alternative to vote for on September 20th.
What is Labour’s policy on the public housing in Chch?
I’m a MANA voter in Chch central and I was going to give you my vote to keep Wagner out. However, Labour has been bashing the party that represents me so I’m not really sure I want Labour representing me, and therefore I’ll probably just give my vote to David Moorhouse in Chch central.
The biggest problem in Chch housing at the moment is rental prices and the only way to sort that out is by providing social housing. MANA have the solutions, so did the first Labour government. Phil Goff is still a fan of rogernomics
Yes what is Labours policy on state housing, not just in Christchurch, but in all NZ?
What is Labours policy regarding Work and Income?
Does it support sick people and those over 60 years being forced to spend their lives looking for work that nobody wants to give them?
Does Labour support children of solo parents living in poverty?
Does it support sick people living on $204 per week?
What exactly does it have for those at the bottom of the heap in this country?
Seriously interested to know.
Nice one Fatty, but the narrative just doesn’t sound real. Are you sure that you aren’t Cameron Slater in ‘fatty’ drag?
Your triatribe sounds too much like Sir Peter Gluckman’s monologue with Susan Wood … swooning sincerely on Q+A, changing the narrative (“The reality is….” ) on obesity. Gluckman changed the narrative away from 250,000 in poverty to the fact the toddlers are weaned off milk and onto potato chips, among a range of other factors (excluding neoliberal monetarist policies).
Your rage sounds too much like changing the narrative from EQC (NACT) inaction, insurance corporate rip-offs, National’s laisser-faire housing policy, or using insurance money to balance the books and 4 year delays. Instead the narrative “bags” Labour, IMP and Green all in one paragraph. Nice try though…..
You sound far too much like a NACT troll stirring up trouble in the far, middle and centre left….but I’m sure others might understand your narrative better than I summise.
Bear in mind at all times,the worst result of all, would be the cynical pyschopaths getting another 3years.
At least Labour is going to make an attempt to right the wrongs and are showing some lateral thinking.
David Cunliffe does have a moral and empathetic compass,which is sadly lacking in the status quo!
Yes despite constant criticism, Labour have released some good policies lately. Christchurch was where the election was lost last time. Smart move Labour.
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