Following a 1931 earthquake, New Zealand adopted seismic provisions as part of its building codes. It became one of the first countries in the world to offer government-backed earthquake damage insurance. Today, the New Zealand Earthquake Commission insures the country’s residential properties against earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, hydrothermal activity, tsunamis, natural disaster fires, and natural landslides.
From Sep 2010 to Feb 2011, a series of earthquakes damaged the area in the Canterbury region. One hundred eighty-five people died. Most of the 2,000 commercial buildings in Christchurch were damaged, displacing more than 4,000 businesses and 55,000 central city workers. Over 100,000 of the region’s 160,000 homes suffered significant damage. The total cost for responding and rebuilding following the earthquake is estimated at US$32 billion — close to 20 percent of New Zealand’s annual gross domestic product.
The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority managed the two-and-a-half-year cordoning and demolition process in the central city. The Earthquake Commission received more than 5 lakh claims for buildings, contents, and land damage. As of June 2015, the commission had settled, through cash payments or repairs, nearly all of its building- and contents-related claims. It is estimated that it will take 30 years to replenish the US$4.8 billion Natural Disaster Fund had prior to the Canterbury earthquakes.
The national government offered half of the pre-earthquake value of the land for uninsured residential and nonresidential properties in the red zones. It is felt that if a participatory planning process had been held earlier in the policy formulation stage of land zoning decisions, many of the consequential issues that required supplemental policies, programs, and actions would likely have been brought to light.
From Sep 2010 to Feb 2011, a series of earthquakes damaged the area in the Canterbury region. One hundred eighty-five people died. Most of the 2,000 commercial buildings in Christchurch were damaged, displacing more than 4,000 businesses and 55,000 central city workers. Over 100,000 of the region’s 160,000 homes suffered significant damage. The total cost for responding and rebuilding following the earthquake is estimated at US$32 billion — close to 20 percent of New Zealand’s annual gross domestic product.
The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority managed the two-and-a-half-year cordoning and demolition process in the central city. The Earthquake Commission received more than 5 lakh claims for buildings, contents, and land damage. As of June 2015, the commission had settled, through cash payments or repairs, nearly all of its building- and contents-related claims. It is estimated that it will take 30 years to replenish the US$4.8 billion Natural Disaster Fund had prior to the Canterbury earthquakes.
The national government offered half of the pre-earthquake value of the land for uninsured residential and nonresidential properties in the red zones. It is felt that if a participatory planning process had been held earlier in the policy formulation stage of land zoning decisions, many of the consequential issues that required supplemental policies, programs, and actions would likely have been brought to light.
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