DOCSLIB.ORG

New Zealand Earthquake –

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
New Zealand Earthquake – 18 JOURNAL VOL. 34 NO. 05 NEW ZEALAND EARTHQUAKE – THE AFTER IT WAS ANNOUNCED IN AUGUST THAT THE EXPECTED COST OF CLAIMSS THE EARTHQUAKE COMMMISSIOS N (EQC) FEATURE FACESE FROM THE CANTERBURY EARTHQUAKES HAD RISEN FROM $3 BILLIONO TO $7.11 BILBI LION. INN ADDAD ITION, THE HIH GH COURT HAS RULED THAT THE EQC IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MULTIPLEL CLAIMS ONN ONE PROPPERTY RESULTINGN FROM THEH MULTIPLE EVENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED. THE PRIME MINISTER HAS SUGGESTEDE THIS DECISION COULD ADD A FURTHER $1 BILLION OF CLAIMS COST TO THE EQC.C IN THIS ARTICLE, JOHN SMEEDD EXAMINES THE BACKGROROUND OF SEISMIC ACTIVITY IN NEWW ZEALAAND,NDD THE DEVDED ELOEL PMENT OFO THET EQC AND PROVIDES A BRIEF REVIEWW OFO THE CAC NTERBURYY EAREA THQUAKES.S HEE THHENE LOOKS AT THETH APPPROPR ACHES TO EARTHQUAKE COVER ADOPTEDD IN JAPAN AND CALIFORORNIA. Seismic Activity in New Zealand New Zealand is not unique in its anywhere in the world over the New Zealand experiences thousands exposure to earthquakes, and along 12 month period. Due to the low of earthquakes a year, most of which with a number of other countries, sits population density in the area are too small to feel. However, since in what is widely known as the “Ring there were only 5,219 claims 1990 there have been more than of Fire”. About eighty per cent of the at a cost of $6.1 million. world’s largest earthquakes occur seventy recorded earthquakes in A list of signifi cant New Zealand New Zealand measuring at least along the Ring of Fire. This zone is a direct result of plate tectonics, earthquakes (most recent fi rst) is John Smeed, Principal, 6.0 on the Richter scale. Geologists on page 20. A notable feature is Finity Consulting. have estimated, based on historical and the movements and collisions of these plates form the boundaries of the apparent clustering of these trends, that each year New Zealand earthquakes over fi ve-year periods can expect several earthquakes of the ring. New Zealand sits on top of the boundary of the Indo-Australian in the past century: 1929–1934 and magnitude 6.0, one magnitude 7.0 2007–2011. every ten years, and a magnitude and the Pacifi c plate. 8.0 earthquake every century. As a result of movement in the As we can see from the list, the plates, New Zealand has signifi cant recent Canterbury earthquakes are fault lines running through the not unique events. The key feature country. The largest central fault of the Canterbury earthquakes is that they occurred close to a major G OF FIRE line is known as the “Alpine Fault”, RIN forming the spine of the South city and, as a result, the impact and Mt. Garibaldi subsequent cost to both life and Aleutian trench Mt. St. Helens Island. The other main fault system Kurile trench runs through the North Island from property has been much greater Japan trench than for other large earthquakes Izu Ogasawara trench Wellington to the Bay of Plenty. Ryuku trench Puerto Rico trench in New Zealand. Philippine Mt. Pinatubo trench It is interesting to review the EQC’s Marianas trench Mt. Mayon Middle America The Earthquake Commission trench Annual Report for the year ended Challenger Deep Equator June 2010 – for a reminder of life As a result of the Canterbury Krakatoa Bougainville trench before the Canterbury quakes. It earthquakes, there has been Java (Sunda) trench reminds us that large earthquakes considerable focus on the Peru-Chile trench Tonga trench frequently hit un- or lowly-populated Earthquake Commission (EQC) Kermadec trench areas of New Zealand. In July 2009, over the past 12 months. a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck South Sandwich trench Fiordland. This was one of the fi ve largest earthquakes recorded www.theinstitute.com.au 19 MATH The EQC was established in 1945 per dwelling, recently increased a compromise between the assessed EQC’s Financial Position originally as the “Earthquake and to 15 cents + GST for every $100 optimal program ($3 billion of A summary of the 2012 budget War Damage Commission”. A series insured, capped at $207 p.a.). cover with excess $1 billion), and (published June 2011) is presented of earthquakes including Murchison For properties that have home and affordability. Before the Darfi eld in Table 1 on page 20. This highlights (1929), Hawke’s Bay (1931), and contents insurance, EQC provides earthquake in September 2010, that the premium income is just two Wairarapa earthquakes (1942), cover of up to $100,000 for homes the fund was worth approximately suffi cient to cover the reinsurance demonstrated New Zealand’s (residential, fl ats and holiday homes), $6 billion. premium and “normal” claims vulnerability to earthquakes and $20,000 for personal belongings and associated with minor events. The reinforced the need for a government unlimited cover for land the homes The broad structure of the NDF is set out in the chart on page 20. budgeted reinsurance premium is a entity to enable access to affordable are on within specifi ed boundaries. one hundred per cent increase over insurance for homeowners. Since its These limits were set in statute in It has been announced recently the premium paid in 2009/10 and the creation, EQC has evolved to include that the latest estimated cost of budget for 2010/11. cover for other natural disasters 1993 and the dwelling limit was set to refl ect the replacement cost of a the February earthquake in (Landslide, Volcanic Eruption, Christchurch is likely to exhaust The Crown Underwriting Fee is the Tsunami, etc) and no longer “modal” or average home. The limits fee determined by the Minister of have not changed since 1993 and this fund and its reinsurance cover provides cover for war damage. and therefore the government Finance for provision by the Crown adjusting for infl ation since then of the Crown Guarantee. Section 16 The three key functions of the would more than double them. guarantee will be called upon. EQC are to: of the Earthquake Commission Act Natural Disaster Fund Research and education 1993 states: “If the assets of the ¤ provide natural peril Commission (including the money for EQC is required to administer the The EQC supports research into insurance cover the time being in the Fund) are not Natural Disaster Fund (NDF) and natural disasters, including Geonet ¤ administer the Natural Disaster suffi cient to meet the liabilities of the to protect its value. Established in which is a collaboration between Fund (investment and reinsurance) Commission, the Minister of Finance 1945, the fund collects premiums, EQC and GNS Science (a research shall, without further appropriation ¤ facilitate research and education earns investment income, and pays institute owned by the New Zealand than this section, provide to the for natural disasters. claims. The NDF investment policy Government). The purpose of the Commission out of public money such is agreed from time to time with the research and education is to reduce Natural Peril Insurance sums by way of grant or advance Minister responsible for the EQC the damage and disruption caused as may be necessary to meet the EQC cover is paid for by all holders of (the Minister of Finance) and the following a natural disaster, and to defi ciency upon such terms and private home or contents insurance. A EQC uses reinsurance for protection improve the levels of understanding conditions as the Minister of Finance proportion of premium is collected on against extreme events. The current of the EQC’s role. determines”. For the year ended 30 behalf of EQC by the private insurers reinsurance program (cover of $2.5 June 2010 this fee was $10 million, (fi ve cents + GST for every $100 billion with excess of $1.5 billion), is insured, capped at $67.50 per year, as it had been for a number of years. 20 JOURNAL VOL. 34 No. 05 Signifi cant New Zealand Earthquakes Size and Location Date Impact Over the period from 2003 to 2010, 22 February 2011 The city of Christchurch experienced a series of major earthquakes the EQC has paid total claims of 6.3 Canterbury – 13 June 2011 centred around the city; severe damage and casualties occurred. $247 million, with earthquakes averaging $10.2 million per annum This earthquake caused severe building damage in and storm/fl ood and landslips $25.1 7.1 Darfi eld (Canterbury) 4 September 2010 mid-Canterbury, and to the city of Christchurch. million – see Table 2 on page 21. Prior to the Christchurch series of This earthquake in Fiordland was New Zealand’s 7.8 Dusky Sound 15 July 2009 events, the previous largest event largest for nearly eighty years. was Gisborne in December 2007 with more than 6,200 claims. This offshore event caused buildings to collapse 6.8 Gisborne 20 December 2007 in the Gisborne CBD. Canterbury earthquakes Much has been written about Christchurch already. On whatever 6.5 Edgecumbe 2 March 1987 The shallow origin of this earthquake made it very destructive. scale you look at the Canterbury earthquakes, they are a very The 1968 Inangahua earthquake on the South Island’s West coast, signifi cant series of events. 7.1 Inangahua 24 May 1968 caused widespread damage and was felt over much of the country. Here is a brief summary of the events and key statistics. The shock that struck the Wairarapa Region on August 2 was nearly 7.0 Wairarapa II 2 August 1942 ¤ Since the 7.1 quake near Darfi eld as severe as the disastrous June 24 earthquake fi ve weeks earlier. on 4 September 2010, there have been a further 29 earthquakes of This earthquake severely rocked the lower North Island on June 24 7.2 Wairarapa I 24 June 1942 magnitude 5.0 or greater.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Treasury Report T2015/1646: EQC Investment Direction
    The Treasury Material Provided to the Public Inquiry into EQC Information Release August 2021 This document has been proactively released by the Treasury on the Treasury website at https://treasury.govt.nz/publications/information-release/public-inquiry-eqc Information Withheld Some parts of this information release would not be appropriate to release and, if requested, would be withheld under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act). Where this is the case, the relevant sections of the Act that would apply have been identified. Where information has been withheld, no public interest has been identified that would outweigh the reasons for withholding it. Key to sections of the Act under which information has been withheld: [23] 9(2)(a) - to protect the privacy of natural persons, including deceased people [25] 9(2)(b)(ii) - to protect the commercial position of the person who supplied the information or who is the subject of the information [26] 9(2)(ba)(i) - to protect information which is subject to an obligation of confidence or which any person has been or could be compelled to provide under the authority of any enactment, where the making available of the information would be likely to prejudice the supply of similar information, or information from the same source, and it is in the public interest that such information should continue to be supplied [31] 9(2)(f)(ii) - to maintain the current constitutional conventions protecting collective and individual ministerial responsibility [33] 9(2)(f)(iv) - to maintain the current constitutional
    [Show full text]
  • Changes to Disaster Insurance in New Zealand
    437 CHANGES TO DISASTER INSURANCE IN NEW ZEALAND SUMMARY This article is based on material supplied by EQC in its information kit detailing the background to and consequences of the Earthquake Act 1993. After discussing the need for a change in insuring for disasters, the new natural disaster insurance for residential properties - EQCover - is outlined. This is followed by an outline of the phase-out of EQC cover for disaster insurance for commercial and "Special Purpose" properties. The new structure for and role of the Earthquake Commission is also outlined. INTRODUCTION there hadn't even been cleared away, let alone rebuilt. Recently, Parliament passed the Earthquake Commission Act Since its establishment, the EQC has been called on to pay 1993 which will take effect from 1 January 1994. The main out on claims relating to several moderately severe events, points of this legislation are that disaster insurance cover - such as the 1968 Inangahua earthquake, the 1987 Bay of now called EQCover - will cover only residential property Plenty earthquake, and the Abbotsford landslip, and on many and this will insure dweelings for replacement value rather claims arising from milder earthquakes. than the indemnity value. This paper explains why the Earthquake and War Damage Commission (EQC) was set up Why chani:e the old system? back in 1945, what has happened since that time, and why changes are now being made to New Zealand's natural EQC maintains a large fund and has considerable disaster insurance system. reinsurance in place to cover, as much as possible, the insurance costs associated with earthquakes and certain other The rini: of fire disasters in New Zealand.
    [Show full text]
  • Kāinga Ora Governance Capability Uplift Programme
    State Sector Governance Essentials – Kāinga Ora Governance Capability Uplift Programme Workbook iod.org.nz Workbook This workbook has been prepared as a resource for participants in the Institute of Directors in New Zealand (Inc) Director Development programme. It is not intended to be exhaustive or constitute advice. Its content should not be used or relied upon as a substitute for proper professional advice or as a basis for formulating business decisions. The Institute of Directors in New Zealand (Inc) and its employees expressly disclaim all or any liability or responsibility to any person in respect of this workbook and in respect of anything done or omitted to be done by any person in reliance on all or any part of the contents of the workbook. (March 2021) SSC 11996 A3 Poster v4 19/6/07 10:53 AM Page 1 A code of conduct issued by the State Services Commissioner under the State Sector Act 1988, section 57 WE MUST BE FAIR FAIR, IMPARTIAL, We must: – treat everyone fairly and with respect RESPONSIBLE & – be professional and responsive TRUSTWORTHY – work to make government services accessible and effective – strive to make a difference to the well-being of New Zealand and all its people. The State Services is made IMPARTIAL up of many organisations with powers to carry out the work of We must: New Zealand’s democratically – maintain the political neutrality required to enable us to work with elected governments. current and future governments – carry out the functions of our organisation, unaffected by our Whether we work in a department personal beliefs or in a Crown entity, we must act – support our organisation to provide robust and unbiased advice with a spirit of service to the – respect the authority of the government of the day.
    [Show full text]
  • State Minister Kazuyuki Nakane's Visit to New Zealand
    State Minister Kazuyuki Nakane's Visit to New Zealand State Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Kazuyuki Nakane visited New Zealand from 20 to 22 February. Visit to Wellington, New Zealand (21 February) Meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rt. Hon. Winston Peters Meeting with Deputy Chairperson of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade and former Minister of Defence, Hon. Mark Mitchell Meeting with former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Gerry Brownlee On the 21st of February, State Minister Nakane visited Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Rt. Hon. Winston Peters. They discussed Japan-New Zealand bilateral relationship, regional affairs including the North Korea situation, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP). Both Mr. Nakane and Mr. Peters agreed to continue working together towards an even stronger bilateral relationship, through cooperation on a range of issues. On the same day, State Minister Nakane also met Hon. Mark Mitchell, the Deputy Chairperson of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade and former Minister of Defence, and Hon. Gerry Brownlee, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery. In both meetings, they exchanged ideas on Japan-New Zealand relations and current international affairs. Visit to Christchurch, New Zealand (22 February) Offering of flowers at the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial Chatting with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (left) (In centre is Mayor of Christchurch, Lianne Dalziel) State Minister Nakane attended the Memorial Service for the 7th Anniversary of the 2011 Christchurch Earthquake, and offered flowers and prayers to the departed representing the Japanese Government.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report 2010–11
    annual report 2010–2011 We are Working hard to provide Canterbury people With Certainty around their claim situation. it is important that We are accurate With our Claims settlement proCess. not just for our customers in a very difficult and uncertain time but also for the Continued ConfidenCe of the global insuranCe market and the protection of the eQc funds for all new Zealanders. Ian SImpSon EQC ChiEf ExecutivE Contents Chairman's report 2 Chief exeCutive's report 6 researCh projeCts 12 eQC's Changing environment 14 natural Disaster Claims loCations 16 summary of Claims 18 eQC's reinsuranCe programme 20 finanCial statements 22 audit report 22 statement of responsibility 24 statement of Comprehensive income 25 statement of Changes in equity 26 statement of financial position 27 statement of Cash flows 28 notes to the financial statements 29 statement of service performance 57 other DisClosures 68 managing organisational health 68 investment processes 70 ministerial DireCtions 72 DireCtory 80 1 EQC Annual Report | 2010–2011 Chairman's Report Any consideration of the operations of the Earthquake Commission (EQC) over the last financial year must start with the acknowledgement that 182 people lost their lives in New Zealand’s most damaging natural disaster. Others were injured, some very seriously. The cumulative effect of 13 major and thousands of minor earthquakes in and around Christchurch has exhausted the emotional resources of many. The social trauma will be with the people of Canterbury and New Zealand, for years. 2 And yet there remAins a soliD beDroCk of soCial anD Community resilienCe on which Canterbury’s physicAl rebuild will be bAsed.
    [Show full text]
  • 2020 BENCHMARKING REPORT Summary of the Findings
    2020 BENCHMARKING REPORT Summary of the findings For the period 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020, plus five-year trends. KEY RESULTS FOR 2020 This report summarises information in the (For all workers – employees & contractors) Forum’s full Benchmarking Report. 4.66 Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate The full online report includes detailed sector results. It is available to all participants who contribute their data 14.03 All Injury Frequency Rate to the benchmarking project. If you would like to join the project and have access to 34.47 Near Miss Report Frequency Rate the full report please email: [email protected] 3 Workers Died Published May 2021 Business Leaders’ Health & Safety Forum: Benchmarking Report www.forum.org.nz Key results Reported frequency rates Who’s involved This report provides a summary of All workers – employees and contractors combined Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing: Aratu Forests Ltd, Dairy NZ, Ernslaw One – Forestry, health and safety performance for Landpower, Miraka, OSPRI New Zealand, Pāmu, PF Olsen, PGG Wrightson, Ruralco, Business Leaders’ Health and Safety 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 T&G Global. Total Recordable Injuries 4.66 5.35 3.17 2.96 2.84 Forum members participating in the Construction: Cassidy Construction, Citycare – Construction, ECL Group, benchmarking initiative. This initiative First Aid Injuries 9.37 11.92 8.32 6.98 10.65 Fletcher Construction, Fulton Hogan, Naylor Love Construction, PAE (Construction), helps members understand and Medical Treatment Injuries 2.13 1.77 1.54 1.20 1.25 Taylors Contracting. compare their performance, and Restricted Work Injury 0.6 1.35 0.33 0.38 0.20 Defence, Public Order, Safety: The Department of Corrections.
    [Show full text]
  • Treasury Report T2012/1959: Cabinet Paper Proposing Terms of Reference for the Review of the Earthquake Commission Act 1993
    The Treasury Material Provided to the Public Inquiry into EQC Information Release August 2021 This document has been proactively released by the Treasury on the Treasury website at https://treasury.govt.nz/publications/information-release/public-inquiry-eqc Information Withheld Some parts of this information release would not be appropriate to release and, if requested, would be withheld under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act). Where this is the case, the relevant sections of the Act that would apply have been identified. Where information has been withheld, no public interest has been identified that would outweigh the reasons for withholding it. Key to sections of the Act under which information has been withheld: [23] 9(2)(a) - to protect the privacy of natural persons, including deceased people [25] 9(2)(b)(ii) - to protect the commercial position of the person who supplied the information or who is the subject of the information [26] 9(2)(ba)(i) - to protect information which is subject to an obligation of confidence or which any person has been or could be compelled to provide under the authority of any enactment, where the making available of the information would be likely to prejudice the supply of similar information, or information from the same source, and it is in the public interest that such information should continue to be supplied [31] 9(2)(f)(ii) - to maintain the current constitutional conventions protecting collective and individual ministerial responsibility [33] 9(2)(f)(iv) - to maintain the current constitutional
    [Show full text]
  • Appraisal Report for Earthquake Commission (EQC) Disposal Schedule Draft for Feedback, August 2021
    Appraisal Report for Earthquake Commission (EQC) Disposal Schedule Draft for feedback, August 2021 Our mission: To reduce the impact on people and 1 property when natural disasters occur. Contents 1. Purpose .............................................................................................................................. 3 2. About the disposal schedule .............................................................................................. 3 2.1 Schedule overview ..........................................................................................................................3 2.2 Scope of the disposal schedule ......................................................................................................4 3. About the agency ............................................................................................................... 4 3.1 Functions and activities of EQC ......................................................................................................4 3.2 Structure of EQC ..............................................................................................................................5 3.3 Information and recordkeeping environment ..............................................................................6 4. Methodology ...................................................................................................................... 8 4.1 Development Activities ...................................................................................................................8
    [Show full text]
  • Organisation Submission
    The Treasury Earthquake Commission (EQC) Act Review Submissions Information Release Release Document January 2018 www.treasury.govt.nz/publications/reviews-consultation/eqc/submissions Key to sections of the Official Information Act 1982 under which information has been withheld. Certain information in this document has been withheld under one or more of the following sections of the Official Information Act, as applicable: [1] 9(2)(a) - to protect the privacy of natural persons, including deceased people; [2] 9(2)(b)(ii) - to protect the commercial position of the person who supplied the information or who is the subject of the information. Where information has been withheld, a numbered reference to the applicable section of the Official Information Act has been made, as listed above. For example, a [2] appearing where information has been withheld in a release document refers to section 9(2)(b)(ii). In preparing this Information Release, the Treasury has considered the public interest considerations in section 9(1) of the Official Information Act. New Zealand’s Future Natural Disaster Insurance Scheme Proposed changes to the Earthquake Commission Act 1993 Submission by Tonkin + Taylor September 2015 New Zealand’s Future Natural Disaster Insurance Scheme Proposed changes to the Earthquake Commission Act 1993 Tonkin + Taylor (T+T) is making this submission in response to the proposed changes to the Earthquake Commission Act 1993. We note that submissions are required to be forwarded to Treasury at [email protected] no later than 5.00pm on Friday 11 September 2015. As requested, our responses are written in the template below.
    [Show full text]
  • Connectedness & Canterbury
    Connectedness & Canterbury How did government agencies connect in response to the Canterbury Earthquakes of 2010 and 2011? Catrin Parish Working Paper No: 14/03 Year 2014 INSTITUTE FOR GOVERNANCE AND POLICY STUDIES WORKING PAPER 14/xx MONTH/YEAR October 2014 AUTHOR Catrin Parish IGPS/SSC Research Fellow INSTITUTE FOR GOVERNANCE School of Government AND POLICY STUDIES Victoria University of Wellington PO Box 600 Wellington NEW ZEALAND For any queries relating to this working paper please contact: [email protected] The views, opinions, findings, and conclusions or DISCLAIMER recommendations expressed in this paper are strictly those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the Institute for Governance and Policy Studies, the School of Government or Victoria University of Wellington. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS As the inaugural participant in the State Services Commission/Institute for Governance and Policy Studies Research Fellow Scheme, I would like to acknowledge the wonderful opportunity that the scheme presents. I am very grateful to have been given the chance to do something new and to contribute a little to creating stronger connections between the state sector and the University. Thanks in particular to all those at the Institute for Governance and Policy Studies and School of Government for their good humour and kind support, and most of all Michael Macaulay for his guidance and wisdom. I am especially grateful to those at the Earthquake Commission who made it possible for me to take this brief foray into academic life. Thank you to Bryan Dunne, and other members of the Executive Leadership Team, for encouraging and supporting me to take this opportunity.
    [Show full text]
  • Earthquake Commission Data
    IN CONFIDENCE File ref: PIES_004.1 Briefing to the Public Inquiry into the Earthquake Commission Title Earthquake Commission Data Date 1 April 2019 Page 1 of 35 Contents Purpose ................................................................................................................................................... 4 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................. 4 Claims data – what we gather and why .................................................................................................. 5 Insurance Liability Valuation Report ................................................................................................... 6 Kaikōura Earthquake – 14 November 2016 .................................................................................... 8 Data required for EQC’s claims on its reinsurance ............................................................................. 8 Claims data for financial reporting ..................................................................................................... 8 A short history of ClaimCenter – EQC’s claims management system ..................................................... 8 ClaimCenter Events ............................................................................................................................. 9 Upgrade to ClaimCenter v8 ........................................................................................................... 10 An Additional
    [Show full text]
  • Report of the Public Inquiry Into the Earthquake Commission (9 April
    H.2 Report of the Public Inquiry into the Earthquake Commission March 2020 Produced in March 2020 by the Public Inquiry into the Earthquake Commission. The content of this report is not subject to copyright, but if you wish to reproduce it in whole or part, please acknowledge it as sourced from the Public Inquiry into the Earthquake Commission. This Inquiry has been conducted according to the Inquiries Act 2013. ISBNs: 978-0-947520-24-3 (Print version) 978-0-947520-25-0 (Online version) URL: eqcinquiry.govt.nz 1 Tēnā koutou, Thank you for your interest in this report, which is the culmination of more than a year’s work inquiring into the Earthquake Commission (EQC) and is aimed at making a positive difference for all New Zealanders. This document sets out my findings and recommendations from the Public Inquiry into the Earthquake Commission. Following receipt by the Governor-General, it provides the Government with the basis for its consideration of next steps. I have tried to present the recommendations and rationale behind them in a clear, readable and concise manner without prescribing how any of these recommendations might best be implemented. In 2018, after I accepted the responsibility to conduct this Inquiry from the Hon Dr Megan Woods, then-Minister Responsible for the Earthquake Commission, I quickly became aware of the importance of the issues that are so fundamental to the everyday lives of New Zealanders. We all face the ever-present threat of natural disasters and we all want to know that when a disaster strikes we will have the means to rebuild and recover from it.
    [Show full text]