2011 Christchurch Earthquake Day III
February 24th, 2011 at 2:00 pm by David Farrar1813: 98 now confirmed dead and up to 238 are missing. This includes 90 students and staff from the King’s Education English language school, and 15 CTV staff.
For general discussion and updates. Should have appeared earlier but got home at 1 am and woke up at 10 am – which also happened to be the time i was due to appear before the Justice & Electoral Select Committee on the 2010 local body elections. The other posts were pre-loaded.
As with yesterday, any politics should be left out of it. All 122 MPs are reacting as human beings to a terrible tragedy, and while they have different roles, they are united in their genuine desire to assist and console.
Related posts:
- 2011 Christchurch Earthquake Day IX
- Christchurch Earthquake 2011 Day II
- 2011 Christchurch Earthquake Day IV
- 2011 Christchurch Earthquake Day V
February 24th, 2011 at 2:14 pm
The Police will start releasing the names of the deceased at 4pm.
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 2:15 pm
Dime has been out of the loop this week.
Im seeing an estimate of 16 billion.
How much do we have put away for this and how much cover do we have?
Im guessing that 16 billion isnt in addition to the damage from the last quake… a lot of that work wasnt even close to starting
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 2:31 pm
John Key said we have $6 billion in the EQC reserve funds, and $5 billion in re-insurance. The EQC reserve fund will be exhausted, expect a big increase in EQC premium levy of insurance next year to cover the inevitiable doubling of re-insurance.
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 2:32 pm
IIRC Key was saying that the EQC was pretty well funded last time, but they might have to really dig in there after this one.
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 2:38 pm
I don’t think anyone here is thinking about money..we are all overwhelmed by the number of deaths…We are all really sad. Some of the aftershocks are really viscous.
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 2:38 pm
The Harold has already named, pictured and (sort of) obituried several.
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 2:40 pm
I saw the 16B estimate but wonder just how much of the initial $8B will not now be needed, many damaged properties now completely demolished, much infrastructure not repaired pretty much just still broken.
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 2:43 pm
The next question is: rebuild?
If you look at the aftershocks they’re getting, are people really happy to live there?
And rebuilt how? Dense, high rise is out me thinks.
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 2:48 pm
I’m sure many people will think seriously about whether they should stay in Christchurch or not. And it will be very difficult to entice people to move there. It must be impossible to sell property just about anywhere in the vicinity of Christchurch.
Rebuilding houses, offices and infrastructure is obviously possible, and will happen to an extent.
Vote:Rebuilding confidence in Christchurch as a place to live and work and run a business will be very difficult.
February 24th, 2011 at 2:56 pm
Plenty of those in Japan..?
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 3:02 pm
I’m not sure that is logical (availability bias). Most of NZ is at risk of an earthquake. Is Christchurch now more risky than it was before these earthquake? I doubt it. It may even be that Christchurch now has a lower risk than other cities in NZ. Would you buy a house in Napier, given they had a terrible earthquake in 1931? In seismology terms, 1931 is just a few minutes ago. Still, I doubt people will be so keen on houses on reclaimed or drained swamp.
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 3:02 pm
James..some of the photos in the herald are the CTV presenters..Donna Manning , Samuel Gibb etc..
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 3:04 pm
If youre a property owner in chch its gonna be hard to leave.
It will be interesing to see how and where they rebuild.
Have we taken money from any other countries yet? has it been offered?
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 3:07 pm
Australia are being champions: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/xinhua/2011-02-23/content_1837269.html
Vote:and just heard recently that the Lion Foundation isn’t being too bad either: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1102/S00877/5-million-lion-foundation-emergency-relief.htm – $5 million!
February 24th, 2011 at 3:27 pm
I am becoming a big fan of Julia Gillard.
I’d probably despise a lot of her politics and disagree with her on most, but she appears to be sincere concerning us.
I think a lot of the talk about our ‘special relationship’ and ‘Anzac mateship’ is mostly lip-service hot air, especially when it’s politicians saying it.
But she appears to be taking a different approach, matching the words with the deeds, and demonstrating an understanding of Australia and New Zealand that most of her predecessors haven’t been able to be bothered with.
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 3:29 pm
Well said Tripe, politically I despise almost everything about Gillard but I have to say she has been a bloody champion over the last three days.
[DPF: Yes she has been great. And over in Australia this is as big news as if it happened in Australia - non stop news coverage etc]
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 3:32 pm
TripeWryter,
Vote:Like you I don’t like her politics.
I laughed at Gillard at first, but she appears to be walking the walk rather than mouthing platitudes. She’s learnt quickly with the experience of the fires floods and famine across the ditch. These disasters, in the main, transcend politics.
February 24th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
I think a lot of the talk about our ‘special relationship’ and ‘Anzac mateship’ is mostly lip-service hot air, especially when it’s politicians saying it.
It’s probably easy to get like that when our relationship is so rarely tested in such manner.
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 3:46 pm
Is Christchurch now more risky than it was before these earthquake?
Would you buy a house in Napier,
Christchurch is known to be a much higher risk than thought – and at the moment with rearranged stresses it still is a greater risk than most places. You could argue that it’s had it’s big ones so is less risk of that but try telling that to the people who have lived through them.
Hawkes Bay is high risk, as is Wellington and many other areas, but with nothing fresh in peoples minds it’s mostly about perception. And I’m sure many people will have a strong perception that Christchurch is a place to avoid, especially for people with families.
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 3:50 pm
I heard a suggestion that this weekend’s Lotto 1st Div prize of about $12M be given to the Red Cross Fund. That would be a donation made by most of NZ and in particular those who have no understanding of how to make a donation. None of us would miss it any more than any other Saturday when we don’t win.
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
cubit they don;t need to give away the 1st div prize (and its probably the power ball anyway).
if any individuals want to give away their ticket money thats their call, but its a bit rich to make the decision for a bunch of people, some of whom will see the lotto draw as a nice distraction from current events.
Also the lotteries guys take in a lot more than they give out in prizes, so they almost certainly have money they can give. just wonder which charities miss out though.
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
Can anyone enligthten me as to if there are emergency regulations associated with the declared state of National emergency that give the Judiciary/Police/Defence Force enhanced and more severe powers when dealing with offenders committing offences that are particulary associated with the emergency, such as entering prohibitted places, theft, etc
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 4:03 pm
Sounds good in theory Cubit but I don’t think they can do that, just like they can’t transfer scratchy prizes or pokie jackpots or racing Pick Six prizes or GST returns or performance bonuses anything that belongs to anyone else.
There is nothing to stop people from donating to an earthquake charity instead of gambling this week.
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 4:05 pm
Why not have a special lottery with several million dollar prizes – all proceeds going to the work needed to rebuild Christchurch. We’d all buy tickets and prizewinner would probably donate some of their prize as well. We could have several of these and raise heaps.
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 4:07 pm
PG : My somewhat subtle point was that this would be the vehicle for all of those who would have no intention of ever donating to anything.
As me old Grandma used to say, ‘No such word as can’t’.
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 4:11 pm
BeaB : A good variation to the theme I posted. May get around that awful “can’t” word. Years ago before Goden Kiwi and Lotto there was the Art Union which was something to do with financing culture.
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 4:27 pm
The $16 billion figure is a guesstimate of how much international reinsurers will be paying out for private insurance claims, including claims for commercial buildings, not the EQC’s liability, which is only for the first $100k of domestic buildings.
The EQC is liable for the first $1.5 billion of its payout, then reinsurance pays for the next $2.5 billion, then the EQC pays anything over $4 billion out of its funds. If it runs out of funds there’s a government guarantee for the remainder.
I’m guessing Key’s “$5 billion” figure for reinsurance refers to two lots of $2.5 billion for the two earthquakes, assuming they get treated as separate events. However (as I understand it) you can’t just lump these amounts together, the first 2.5 billion of reinsurance only covers claims from the first earthquake.
There will definitely need to be a much higher EQC levy to build the EQC fund up again. Expect it to be announced after the election though.
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 4:43 pm
Does anybody know what would happen if there was another large earthquake in a different region? would it be a case of there being no more money? what would happen?
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 4:45 pm
Shunda
Yep, I know what would happen.
The wankers over at the Standard would blame John Key.
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 4:50 pm
@Shunda
What the??
What do you think would happen?
Like pragmatic people we would deal with it in the same way Chch is being dealt with – as best we can.
It’s what humans do; we manage everything the planet throws at us as best we can; managing the scarce resources we have (sometimes wisely and sometimes not so well)
Are you suggesting we can’t multi-task….. or is your a prophecy of further doom?
Vote:.
February 24th, 2011 at 5:09 pm
William, lighten the hell up, I am interested in how the country would go about paying for another disaster with the EQC now bottomed out.
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 5:18 pm
Shunda, the EQC payout is Crown Guaranteed by the 1993 Earthquake Commission Act. If the EQC had zero funds and there was another natural disaster then the government would have to cover the part of the payout that wasn’t covered by reinsurance.
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 5:56 pm
I notice about $4 billion of the EQC’s fund is in NZ Government securities. So if they need to cash that in, the money has to come from the government anyway.
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 6:06 pm
Good job with the donations kiwibloggers. Remember they are tax deductible
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 6:59 pm
re Gillard; ;look at it this way. Its a nice deposit for a down payment for all the Kiwi’s we have educated and trained etc that have left NZ to live there after we spent our cash on them, just to enjoy the better life there and who have made no return to NZ for the money invested by the NZ taxpayer.
Vote:Its also about $8.33 for each kiwi living in Australia.
Still thankful for the money and assistance and we should never look a gift horse in the mouth.
(gotta watch some of the Peter’s one’s though.)
February 24th, 2011 at 7:26 pm
@shunda
I’m not sure I can lighten up much more than the sarcasm I threw at you….. it is very nice you are planning funding of the next disaster….. I just thought we ought to deal with this one first.
The answer to your question is that there are two certainties in life; death and taxes.
Vote:We are seeing the death; the taxes – direct or indirect – will follow.
February 24th, 2011 at 7:31 pm
I see that the list of the deceased includes two babies, one five months old and one nine months old.
The next couple of days is going to be bloody rough.
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 7:49 pm
Thank you William for your patronising wisdom.
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 7:54 pm
My pleasure
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 7:59 pm
Well ok then
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 8:03 pm
Gerry Brownlie stripped of other responsibilities to focus on ChCh. Good move.
Vote:Especially for commitment to everyone – given, along with countless others, his own personal circumstances none too flash.
Great sight on TV1 Close Up – hundreds of students pitching in to help in the suburbs. Wonderful example. Tremendous commitment to the city/citizens. Well done them!
Ditto – good practical commonsense from Nigel Latta….to everyone.
February 24th, 2011 at 8:13 pm
I see that the list of the deceased includes two babies, one five months old and one nine months old.
The next couple of days is going to be bloody rough.
It’s like some horrible nightmare. On tv it seems like something we are used to seeing in some other part of the world, it is hard to accept that it is the city I spent so much time in when I was a kid.
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 8:47 pm
Many days I here the statement that “young people are just lazy and don’t want to work”.
I have never believed that because I have always considered that that came from a lack of leadership and ignorance.
It is inspiring to see on the TV the efforts of students both last time and this time. I can imagine as well that many other young people are involved even if in their own places of residence or at work.
Good leadership, brings out the special in people of all ages.
The Government will give the Student Volunteer Army $20,000 to help them with their operations, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has announced.
Vote:“Just as they did after last September’s earthquake, students led by Sam Johnson are swinging into action and it’s truly humbling to see,” says Paula Bennett.
The money will help pay for equipment like wheelbarrows and shovels so they can continue with cleaning up liquefaction, clearing driveways and helping residents with basic labouring work.
February 24th, 2011 at 8:54 pm
I feel the same Shunda; there have been deaths at at least two places that I visited over the Christmas/New Year period. My wife and/or I personally know three people who have died so far. It IS like a horrible nightmare, except that when we wake up, the nightmare will still be there. Mike Yardley summed it up well on Newstalk ZB yesterday when he said “The Gates of Hell were opened yesterday”.
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 10:13 pm
from stuff:
9.03pm: A man has been arrested for impersonating a building inspector and asking to see people’s valuables in a bid to steal from them.
i say kill him.
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 10:31 pm
@ dime; neh; send him out to Burnham to help out in the temporary mortuary …
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 11:08 pm
I am sorry to hear that Invent, I get the feeling that the grief of this terrible event is yet to hit, it was a bit like that when we had the Pike river disaster here, it took a while for the initial shock to subside.
Vote:February 24th, 2011 at 11:09 pm
147 photos of it
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/gallery/gallery-e6frewxi-1226009990693?page=01
Vote:February 25th, 2011 at 12:11 am
reid – those photo’s are amazing, but terrible. AFAIK, NZ media has nothing like this.
Vote:February 25th, 2011 at 6:31 am
Wrong Magnanomis – most of those photos on the Daily Telegraph site have already been on either the Herald or Stuff in photo montages.
Vote:February 25th, 2011 at 9:38 am
The story of the mountaineer guy getting 15 people out of the Forsyth Barr building is amazing. He says he is not a hero but I am sure those he saved think he is hero. The Japanese boy is lovely too..his leg was amputated at the CTV building.
Vote:We all have a lot of grief ahead of us and many people are very stressed. Thanks for the support from other parts of NZ and OZ.
February 25th, 2011 at 7:35 pm
Theres ALLWAYS new money
Shunda barunda (1,528) Says:
February 24th, 2011 at 5:09 pm
Vote:William, lighten the hell up, I am interested in how the country would go about paying for another disaster with the EQC now bottomed out.