28 November 2013

Support Growing For Southern Response Action

A growing number of frustrated and tired Southern Response policy holders and supporters will gather outside the SR offices in Show Place (Christchurch) on Monday morning.

Organiser, Steve Gurney, says he was inundated with emails after a recent story ran on Campbell Live television about the ongoing issues he was having to deal with around his property claim with Southern Response, and was emotionally compelled to help others in the same situation.

To date more than 50 people have contacted Gurney recounting their stories of dire frustration with Southern Response and Arrow, the Project Managers for SR.

“The folks who have mustered the courage and energy to track me down must be the tip of the iceberg. The protest is a chance for everyone to stand up for their rights, together with their supporters,” he says.

Gurney says his issues with SR have almost been sorted but it is abundantly clear that for many, the stress and anxiety related to a lack of progress with their SR claims is continuing.

“I am appalled at the abhorrent treatment people have been getting from Southern Response and the terrible effect it is having on their lives, their health, their jobs, their families. These people are so worn down by the months and years of stress and uncertainty about the most basic of needs, shelter, refuge and life savings, that they are overwhelmed. When people get this low, taking action takes a massive amount of energy. Fighting back with legal action is often too expensive and too stressful. This gathering on Monday is a way to band together. It’s too hard to battle on our own and with a combined voice we will finally have the power to communicate that what is happening is unacceptable and put some pressure on those who can address the problems many are still facing years after the events.”

Gurney who is currently living in Queenstown after having his Christchurch home red-zoned and red-stickered, has employed a QS and a lawyer to progress his claim with Southern Response. Gurney has been liaising with Ali Jones whose family has been out of their home for two years and has had to engage a lawyer to try and progress their claim with Southern Response.

“This week we, through our lawyer, asked for a meeting with SR to address issues which are still unclear around why we still have no information from an assessment completed on the 2 September. They rejected our request,” she says. “This is not only about us. What our family is continuing to deal with and the resulting stress, including increased financial pressures, is something all too common and it cannot be allowed to continue.”

Jones says she is concerned that unreasonable delays exacerbated by misinformation, incorrect assessments from the SR Project Manager Arrow, and poor communication with policy holders are not being addressed with no indication there is any concern about the situation many still find themselves in.

“There are no consequences for Southern Response when delays and lack of progress continue,” she says. “We and many others are incurring additional costs including rental top ups, rates being paid on uninhabitable homes, insurance premiums being paid on uninhabitable homes and additional professional advice obtained when a claimant has to support their challenge of SR’s decisions or assessments – this is crippling some people and it is unacceptable.”

Gurney and Jones are hopeful that the gathering on Monday will result in positive and real engagement with Southern Response at a senior level, with a commitment from them to effectively address issues that are severely affecting the lives of Cantabrians who are unable to progress their claims, as per their policy entitlement.

Gurney points out, “Our protest is civil and sincere. We’re not out to be unruly and illegal. Being at SR’s offices next Monday is an opportunity for Peter Rose and his managers to front up and commit to improving the situation”.

ENDS

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