Christchurch Earthquake bulletin edition 58

The Labour Party's Christchurch electorate MPs, Clayton Cosgrove (Waimakariri), Ruth Dyson (Port Hills), Lianne Dalziel (Christchurch East) and Brendon Burns (Christchurch Central) have started a regular bulletin to keep people in their electorates and media informed about what is happening at grass roots level.

CLAYTON COSGROVE: When the aftershocks hit on Monday I was meeting businessman Mike Pero who has set up a new office in Kaiapoi two doors down from my office. People were visibly distraught-local workers from businesses nearby were openly distressed. When the aftershocks settled I went around my local businesses and headed up to Pines and Kairaki to see as many residents as possible. Basically people have had a guts-full. I met with the local fire chief after they returned from the city; they are holding up well. I am concerned about local morale; people are really on edge, and many on the brink of deciding whether they might have had enough. Insurance Issues: Today I have a meeting with the Insurance Council and a number of its members including insurance company chief executives. I will be asking for explanations around recent contractual conflicts, particularly about why they are putting clauses in claimants contracts which give almost total power to the insurer and project manager but leave claimants themselves with the lion's share of responsibility and liability for the repair and rebuild of their homes. Independent legal advice has noted that many of these clauses are unfair and inappropriate, especially those requiring claimants or earthquake victims to indemnify contractors and insurers. Also inappropriate is the process which allows insurers and project managers to change time frames, the scope of work, and the termination of contracts without giving the claimant notice. I will be asking insurance companies to do their job transparently before they lose the confidence of consumers. Ultimately this sort of behaviour is undermining people's confidence in the insurance sector at large, meaning claimants are reluctant to sign contacts without seeking additional advice-which is now impacting on the integrity of the recovery process.

RUTH DYSON: It is a great relief that today is a fine day, considering many of my constituents are without power and water. No one has water east of the Ferrymead Bridge and word is it may be off for several days. The power situation is to be updated later in the morning but is likely to be off for only a day or two. There has been substantial building and rock fall damage including the Timeball in Lyttelton and both Redcliffs and Woolston libraries. Many water mains are broken throughout Bromley, Linwood, Woolston and Ferrymead causing significant flooding. There is significant liquefaction throughout Bromley and Ferrymead. I am pleased that an emergency hub has been set up at Van Asch in Sumner to assist displaced people. For many, it has been a cold and shaky night. People's nerves are frazzled and although there is a lot of community resilience, we all have to work even harder to provide the information, support and leadership people need. There are significant new rock falls on either side of Sumner, Peacocks Gallop, Redcliffs and Morgan's Valley. This is another challenge for people who have only heard last Friday from the Council about work being done to make their homes safe. For many, the process now starts again. A large piece of the mostly collapsed sea wall in Redcliffs has completely gone and locals are very concerned about flooding at the next high tide and are trying to get sandbagging completed today.

LIANNE DALZIEL: I started the day in Beckenham today. Following yesterday's aftershocks much of Bexley was again without electricity. I decided it was best to stay with a friend, get some sleep, a hot meal and a hot shower to ensure I was prepared for another tough few days. Cantabrians have an enormous amount of resilience, but I think where possible we all need to take a break, and make the most of small comforts if it means we can be more active in our recovery efforts. I have been on TVNZ's Breakfast show this morning in Cranmer Square. I was in New Brighton when both aftershocks hit yesterday afternoon. The first time I was in the local Ray White real estate office negotiating a temporary location for my electorate office. I was on the phone when the first aftershock hit. We continued, rattling our way through negotiations. The good news is I will now have a proper base to meet with constituents again. There were some pretty shell-shocked people. Most people re-gathered themselves and we got on with our days. I was speaking to a constituent after lunch when the second after shock hit. It was a really violent shake, and people were now visibly upset, crying and distressed. By the time I was able to leave New Brighton the bridge has been closed. It took me nearly two hours to get home, an indication of the damage and liquefaction considering I only live in Bexley. I saw a lot of the damage in the back streets in Aranui and New Brighton Road and was really worried about the Avon River ---apparently it has topped the stop bank in Avondale- I will seek an update on the water levels today. It was a scene of déjà vu, I put some photos online and was overwhelmed with the similarities to those I had uploaded after the September and February quakes. Residents are again dealing with streets which are completely flooded, there are sink holes and debris on the roads. Some are unfortunately at the end of their tether with no timeframe around the future of their land. Gerry Brownlee is quoted today as saying in response to the aftershocks and the ramifications for the land report: 'I don't think this will hold us up, I think if anything in some areas it makes the decision blindingly obvious'. My plea is that if he is aware of specific areas which cannot be recovered or rebuilt that he tell us now. I am only asking for honest engagement. It seems as though he is working towards a full and final package, when in fact a starting point on the basic status of our land would be enough right now. It would give people an end in sight. Today I am meeting with community leaders. There have already been many offers of support from groups outside the electorate and I expect the generosity we've seen before to continue.

BRENDON BURNS: The first aftershock struck when I was at a Service and Food Workers Union meeting. I hurried back to my office, to learn a damaged building complex on Worcester St and Stanmore Road had collapsed. I was there when the second quake struck and it collapsed further. Luckily nobody was inside and the area had long been cordoned off. Traffic quickly became gridlocked, so I got on my bike and cycled round parts of my electorate in Avonside and Richmond. It was quite a distressing scene, with widespread liquefaction. At times I was cycling through water that was knee deep. I stopped and spoke to a number of constituents who were shocked and on edge, but it was heartening to see neighbours helping neighbours. In Avonside, a couple invited in a driver whose home was inaccessible offering up their home for the night. In Richmond, many people were out and about checking on friends and family and particularly elderly relatives. I spoke to a woman whose house wasn't badly damaged but who had no power and whose yard was full of silt Today I have attended a media briefing and am now responding to calls such as those from Avonside residents who are still without water. I will also be out in my caravan on the corner of Woodham Rd and Patten St at 3pm with temporary accommodation forms.

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