21 December 2001 Media Statement

Govt and EQC “think laterally” for Waihi residents

“The government and the Earthquake Commission have engaged in some lateral thinking to compensate victims of the Waihi land collapse,” Finance Minister Michael Cullen said today.

“The EQC’s legal advice was that the land slip was outside the coverage of the Earthquake Commission Act so to get around this, the government has told the EQC to settle the claims using government funding and applying standard EQC rules and criteria.

“This amount will then be reimbursed to the government under a section in the Act which empowers the government to demand a special dividend and payment in lieu of tax,” Dr Cullen said.

The EQC will begin making the payments to eligible claimants almost immediately.

Dr Cullen said the money was in addition to the $10,000 the government was contributing to the Waihi mayoral relief fund.

ENDS

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