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Speaker: Sharks Dine Out on Christchurch’s Red Zoners

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  • MikeC, in reply to Ross Mason,

    Great idea Ross. CERA have the powers to do anything they like with land. They can acquire at Rateable Value, freeze prices. Roger said to me they do not want to get involved in the Market. My 'yelling from roof top' is trying to get people to see there will be no other way for people to get land.

    Avonside • Since Jul 2011 • 4 posts Report Reply

  • MikeC,

    I talked to someone who left home after Sept. there house as been uninhabitable for 10 months and now the insurance have assessed again and said it can be fixed and given them a pathetic value. they are stunned. As I have been saying Insurance Companies will not rebuild unless a house is totaled. this is appalling.
    Insurance are coming off well out of this.

    Avonside • Since Jul 2011 • 4 posts Report Reply

  • stephen walker,

    the whole "deal" of forcing people off their land and letting the insurance companies walk away from their responsibility to pay out fully is sick. this govt is the govt representing international finance, not nzers. but it is, apparently, about to be re-elected by nz voters who are getting totally screwed over by them.

    nagano • Since Nov 2006 • 646 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to MikeC,

    Roger said to me they do not want to get involved in the Market.

    Yet by choosing to do nothing, they *are* influencing the market. Property speculators will be emboldened to go on a land-buying spree, jacking up prices.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Simon Lyall,

    Part of the solution might be higher density, cheaper to rent units/flats rather than attempting to re-house everybody on a 1/4 acre section. But I suspect that people (potential tenants and NIMBY neighbours) will reject this option.

    Accelerating the ongoing culture change away from the quarter acre section will need strong leadership, especially with Christchurch residents being understandably wary of multi-level dwellings.

    Firm building standards might reassure, but they will interfere with the profit margins of developers so I wouldn't bet on them prevailing under this lot. Which plays into the hands of the land speculators..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to MikeC,

    Insurance are coming off well out of this.

    Indeed. What is happening here is a write-down of assets and liabilities, your assets, their liabilities, classic Capitalism.
    There is room for even more trickery. If an insurance company "writes off" your property, it becomes theirs and I am willing to bet that there will be a few houses in the "Red Zone" that will suddenly become "repairable" and the land declared "Stable" after the dust has settled a few years down the track.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell,

    Roger said to me they do not want to get involved in the Market. My ‘yelling from roof top’ is trying to get people to see there will be no other way for people to get land.

    Yes. Leaving the resolution of people’s dire housing needs to ‘the market’ is absolute ballocks in such a situation. The people in the red zone are not average buyers in any sort of ordinary supply and demand scenario. They’ve been forced out by multiple quakes and a government decision.
    I’m not especially shocked to see this Govt outsource empathy to land sharks. But angry, yes. Various aspects of the ‘private enterprise’ response to the quake give looters a bad name.
    Brownlee and CERA have been given extraordinary powers. Handing over responsibility for the recovery to ‘market forces’ is gutless on the one hand, and a terrible ’solution’on the other. Time for the govt to step up- or get out.
    If govt, CERA and the council continue to show no inclination to lead, those affected need to start organising their own solutions- helped by whatever local leadership and wider support can be mustered. It will suit the land-sharks perfectly to have thousands of individual families all looking for land at the same time- and competing with each other. On the other hand- collectives of even 10 or 20 families, with a nominated buyer or agent, would have significant money behind them. A collective land-buying agency, with 100s of families involved, might have the ability to change the game completely.
    There’s already some organised lobbying. Surely worth a try?

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Rob Stowell,

    Now that is an excellent suggestion Rob Stowell.

    I'd venture an extension: Dunedin CC is having problems getting reinsurance at reasonable rates (not the hiked-up shark rates offered): maybe SI local bodies getting together and organising something in that direction too?

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • David Haywood, in reply to Rob Stowell,

    On the other hand- collectives of even 10 or 20 families, with a nominated buyer or agent, would have significant money behind them.

    I've just spent the afternoon in a meeting to attempt to set up just such a scheme. The idea is to try and save the heritage (circa 100 year old) houses in the Red Zone -- but the concept could easily be extended/adopted for newer houses/homeowners. More on this later...

    Dunsandel • Since Nov 2006 • 1156 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to David Haywood,

    More on this later…

    And I say David Haywood for Mayor! Not only vocal but pro-active to boot.Peoples for the peoples, keep up your valued work.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Islander,

    . . . maybe SI local bodies getting together and organising something in that direction too?

    Given its godawful track record on these matters, it'd be a bit of a stretch to expect the Parkerstani faction to hop on board.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • David Haywood,

    This seems to be Gerry Brownlee’s response to Mike Coleman’s piece:

    click here

    I must say that I think the government’s proposed buy-out solution is great for the majority of people in the Red Zone. But it does leave a sizable minority of people (such as my family) in a pretty bad position. I’m still hopeful that things can be tweaked to produce a good solution for everyone.

    The other end of the problem is moving people onto new land – and this seems to have a number of pitfalls that may need to be addressed (as Mike Coleman has identified). In particular, there really does need to be options for people who don’t want to live in Stepford-type battery-chicken suburbs in Rolleston. Hopefully by organizing ourselves into groups and negotiating with CERA and the council some good solutions can be reached. It would only be compounding the tragedy of the earthquake if they weren’t.

    Dunsandel • Since Nov 2006 • 1156 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    +++++1!!

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • David Haywood, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    And I say David Haywood for Mayor!

    Oh God no...

    Dunsandel • Since Nov 2006 • 1156 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to David Haywood,

    . . . Gerry Brownlee’s response to Mike Coleman’s piece

    No doubt finer minds than mine will fisk the details of Brownlee's reply, but the glib condescencion of this is breathtaking (italics are mine):

    Mike Coleman asserts that the Government has bent to the call of international insurers and reinsurers - not true. What we have recognised is that not all policies are the same; not all of us read the fine print; and none of us can expect insurers to offer outcomes or cover beyond the scope of the policy we bought.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to David Haywood,

    Only if you want it o benevolent dictator of the Known Universe...

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    O shit o dear - Parker really hasnt changed his spots eh?

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to David Haywood,

    Oh God no…

    What help would God be? Supposed to have got you guys in this bind in the first place, oh... wait a minute, :)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    O gag.
    He is ACTUALLY SAYING MIKE C IS RIGHT!!!

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to David Haywood,

    This seems to be Gerry Brownlee’s response to Mike Coleman’s piece

    What. a. dick.

    There is no hurry to settle...

    Spoken like someone from Fendalton whose home is not unrepairable.

    none of us can expect insurers to offer outcomes or cover beyond the scope of the policy we bought.

    What, like expecting full replacement to mean full replacement is somehow exceptional? Cockweasel.

    No wonder you were unimpressed with the article, Mike.

    snap, Joe

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to David Haywood,

    Gerry Brownlee’s response

    also includes this nugget:

    ...given the disaster of the earthquake events removed the ability to stay on the land...

    Is the Minister now confirming that it was the natural event and not the subsequent government decision that has affected red-zoned properties?

    Someone tell the insurance companies trying to wriggle out of honouring their full replacement policies.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to David Haywood,

    And I say David Haywood for Mayor!

    Oh God no...

    Alan Bollard, then.
    And his ute.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Sacha,

    Is the Minister now confirming that it was the natural event and not the subsequent government decision that has affected red-zoned properties?

    Someone tell the insurance companies trying to wriggle out of honouring their full replacement policies.

    Two words: disaster capitalism.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    I wasn't making a broad point there - the specifics might be far more useful right now.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell,

    I’ve just spent the afternoon in a meeting to attempt to set up just such a scheme. The idea is to try and save the heritage (circa 100 year old) houses in the Red Zone – but the concept could easily be extended/adopted for newer houses/homeowners. More on this later…

    Great- always two steps ahead!
    If you have anyone who is a good spokesperson, publicity around initiatives like this could be a good idea. One or two TV/press news stories and you might find a small scheme really grows- or other people who have different situations and needs get together themselves.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

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