Though of a similar magnitude, the contrast between the initial human impact of the Christchurch and Haiti earthquakes could not have been more stark. No doubt this was a factor that prompted former Prime Minister Helen Clark to promote New Zealand as an example to the world of earthquake preparedness.
While the initial response phases of the Christchurch quake appear to be behind us, the shock and the basic clean-up, the most difficult period for the victims is still ahead. there have been many stories of good and bad fortune, but unlike Haiti where the human impact was immediate and huge, returning to life “the way we were” is well into the future, if at all. The frustrations and anger vented in recent days by a group of Avonside residents are a portent of things to come. While local councils, the EQC and insurance companies scramble to meet the expectations of their customers, lasting solutions are many months away. No matter how hard those in positions of responsibility work – whether it is government, councils or insurance companies, their effort will undoubtedly fall short of expectations.
What of those people who are not customers of insurance companies and the EQC? what is their plight and who will pay for the necessary rebuilding and/or repairs to their homes? so far there have been mainly vague and oblique references to the effect that those in the most need will be “looked after”.
A solution will have to be found for the estimated 5% uninsured – around 5000 people – and there will need to be a measure of fairness in the way these folk are dealt with versus the insured. for example, would it be fair if the uninsured received preferential access to the all-purpose fund that is attracting public and private donations?
The plight of both the insured and the uninsured will attract the media’s attention in the months ahead, and we can expect the uninsured to become the real causes célèbres, our “Haitians”, because that’s what happens.
There must be fairness for all victims, and I believe it will be the responses to these issues that will define us, perhaps better than Helen Clark’s spotlight on our preparedness.
Tags: Avonside, Christchurch Earthquake, defining New Zealanders, earthquake victims, EQC, Haiti earthquake, Helen Clark, insurance companies
this entry was posted on Friday, September 24th, 2010 at 1:41 pm and is filed under PR Matters. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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