Political rivals unite to fast-track Christchurch earthquake law

Prime Minister John Key said that the Christchurch earthquake - with a repair bill expected to be more than $4 billion - was New Zealand's most costly natural disaster. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The Government has won support from its political rivals for emergency earthquake relief legislation that will bypass existing laws to speed up rebuilding in Canterbury.

Prime Minister John Key said yesterday that the quake - with a repair bill expected to be more than $4 billion - was New Zealand's most costly natural disaster.

The Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Bill, expected to be passed in Parliament today, would help recovery efforts.

It would allow ministers to use "orders in council" to bypass the normal parliamentary process and overrule or relax existing legislation - including local body bylaws - to speed up rebuilding efforts.

"The bill is recognition that legislation such as the Building, Local Government and Resource Management Acts are not designed for the special circumstances Canterbury faces."

Ilam MP and Cabinet minister Gerry Brownlee, who is overseeing the recovery, said other parties had indicated their willingness to support the legislation.

Labour leader Phil Goff said his party would support it "so the people of Canterbury can get on with rebuilding their region".

Mr Brownlee said the move towards recovery was going well.

"The legislation will mean the city can move from emergency into urgency on repair."

The new law will also establish a Recovery Commission made up of the mayors of Christchurch, Waimakariri and Selwyn, three Government appointees and an independent chairperson.

Mr Brownlee said the commission would ensure that rebuilding efforts, particularly for sewage and waste infrastructure, were co-ordinated and done in conjunction with the Government.

While the legislation today would speed up reconstruction efforts, "there will be no backing away from high standards in building repairs", said Mr Brownlee.

"It's high standards that saved our skins, literally, in this disaster."

The minister said Earthquake Commission assessors would begin contacting claimants today and the first payments, for minor claims, would be made this week.

But he warned claimants to be sure they were talking to genuine staff by asking them for their EQC claim number.

He also advised claimants not to give their bank account details to anybody claiming to be an assessor, as there had been instances of people posing as insurance company staff.

COUNTING THE COST
* 49,024 claims had been lodged with the EQC by midday yesterday.
* 2000 homes are likely to have damage exceeding the EQC's $100,000 cap.
* About 12,500 claims, or 25 per cent, are likely to be for minor damage costing less than $10,000.
* About 34,500, or 70 per cent, are likely to be for $10,000 to $95,000 in damage; 14,000 involve the collapse of a chimney.
* The EQC believes the number of claims may eventually top 100,000.