I have been there since the big one ( even experienced a couple of aftershocks myself) - and seen first-hand what is going on with repairs - both the temporary ones and completed. I think that the main thing that strikes me - is the complete arbitrariness of how it's being done. Where my daughter and family live, you can see fully restored houses now - standing next to properties that will have to be demolished ( Red Stickered), and those that are repairable - but will cost a lot to fix. I keep in contact with my family by skype every week - and get updates regularly on developments ( usually - nothing ) for the last two years.
The decisions were mostly made within six months - which houses were repairable - and which weren't - and then the fun and games began - with those whose houses were to be fixed first began. Looks to me from afar, that the easiest fixes were done first ( Government then claims credit in the "numbers fixed game"). The credibility of the assesors and builders - and where contracts have been awarded has also been highly contentious in local newspapers.
Bits of work have been done on their house - ( like re-connecting sewerage pipes - which were broken). Temporary wood cladding was put on - which NOW looks like it will have to be replaced AGAIN - because of the length of time it's been on - and the temp fix has deteriorated over two winters. And all because of the bickering between the EQ Commision and Insurers over who pays for what. ( Note that this changes from time to time - as my daughter used to make regular phone calls to check on progress of their case. They have learned not to bother anymore - as they speak to different people each time - who give them contradictory information - and then "the runaround").
The whole thing has not been handled well at all, in my opinion. People who complain get nowhere - because there is nowhere else to go with their complaints about delay. Even letters to the Newspa[pers go unanswered and unpublished - there's just too many of them. I will just remind folks that 730 days and nights have passed since the big earthquake came - and there is still not one brick stood upon another in their house. The kids have decorated the "temporary" plywood outer walls with chalk drawings - and newspaper is stuffed in the cracks. Interestingly, you can check on the kids language developing - as their spelling and drawing improve over time!
But they are among the luckier ones - they have a roof! I saw people living ( if you can call it that), in the sand-dunes near Brighton Pier - and that was a year on - it is now two! I sincerely hope it is fixed by next year - as I intend to visit again - hopefully to help decorate a plastered brick walls.
It is a scandal - no more - and no less - and no doubt about it. Some of the people involved in the decision-making in Government organisations and private insurance companies - who gladly took ( and continue to take) the premiums should be heartily ashamed of their performance - or in my daughter';s case - lack of it!. The phrase " Couldn't run a knees-up in a brewery" come to mind here.
I should sign off as "Disgusted, Tunbridge Wells"^&grin - but I'll stick to johnnybach. Don't forget the story folks - you never know - it could be your turn next - as Our Aussie friends mention. And thanks to all for thinking about them - by the way. jb
