I will be in Christchurch, and available to help you in any way I can.
If you have queries - you can call my Christchurch office 365 8297
As I will be out and about the electorate all week - please dont hesitate to say hi, and tell me how things are going for you.
On my "BLOG" page you can see links to many organisations who are here to help you and your family and friends.
On my "SOUNDBITES" page you can see some pictures from this extraordinary week.
Best regards
Nicky
Just when things were beginning to look up – more aftershocks!!! But all city support services are activated and we are making progress on repairing infrastructure and getting households and businesses back to normal.
Power Supply- virtually everyone has got the power back.
Water Supply- 90% of households on-line but we should still be boiling water for 3 minutes.
IF YOU NEED HELP: Main phone numbers
• EQC 0800 DAMAGE (0800 326 243).
• Government helpline 0800 779 997
• Healthline (24 Hours) 0800 611 116
• Christchurch City Council helpline 03 941 8999
• Emergency services 111
Earthquake Commission (EQC)
The EQC 0800 number is being inundated with calls and it can be very hard to get through. You might want to use the online claim form. There is a three-month window to lodge a claim from the date that the damage occurred.
How to make a claim
• Claims can be lodged with EQC by calling free on 0800 326 243 at any time.
• Claims can also be lodged online at: https://cms.eqc.co.nz/claimcenter/cms/public/fnol.form
• People have three months to lodge a claim from the time the event occurred.
• When calling EQC, staff will ask you who you are insured with and for your idea of the extent of damage. Staff will then let you know whether someone will call to help with your claim, or whether you can go ahead and get the repair done. We will follow this up in writing.
• If you are unsure about your insurance cover, please call us anyway and we will do all we can to check it for you.
• For more information online on making a claim with EQC go to:
http://www.eqc.govt.nz/insurance/householdersguide.aspx
Am I covered by the Earthquake Commission?
• If you have current home and/or contents insurance, you also have the Earthquake Commission’s cover.
• EQC covers damage to residential property caused by earthquake, landslip, tsunami, volcanic eruption, hydrothermal activity, storm or flood (land only – not the property on it), fire following any of the above. (* Residential property is your home, its contents and the land immediately surrounding the dwelling (within limits).
What should I do about the mess & damage to my property?
• If possible take photos before moving anything.
• You can make temporary repairs for safety or to prevent further damage or discomfort.
• You can get essential services like toilets and water systems repaired immediately but keep everything the repairer replaces (and keep a copy of the bill).
• You can clean up spillages or crockery and glass breakages (but don’t throw anything not perishable away yet).
• You can dispose of perishables like ruined or spilt food. (List the items as you bury, burn or dump them).
Social Development
The Ministry of Social Development General help line: 0800 779997
People calling the helpline can get information on income support, housing options, health issues, community assistance, clean-up and how to contact any other services people may need.
• Work and Income and Child, Youth and Family staff will be operating out of all the Civil Defence welfare centres in Christchurch providing emergency assistance to people.
• As soon as the Work and Income and Child, Youth and Family offices have been structurally assessed as safe, those premises will open.
• All standard appointments for Work and Income and Child, Youth and Family in Christchurch sites for this week have been cancelled.
• Benefits and superannuation will continue to be paid to people regardless.
• The welfare centres are located at Linwood college, Burnside High School, Addington Raceway, Kaipoi Nth School.
Anyone requiring emergency financial assistance can phone the Work and Income contact centre 0800 559 009.
Education providers
• All schools in Christchurch, Waimakariri and Selwyn districts are closed to students until Wednesday 8 September.
• It may be that other schools and boards decide to remain closed until they are satisfied that structures and sanitation are safe.
• All licensed centre based ECE services in Christchurch City Council, Waimakariri District Council and Selwyn District Council areas are closed until the end of Tuesday 7 September 2010.
• Canterbury University and Lincoln University are closed and are due to re-opening on Monday 13th September.
• The Ministry of Education will make a further announcement later today about the possible ongoing closure of schools and ECE services.
Further updates are available at – www.minedu.govt.nz/CanterburyEarthquake
Landlords and tenants
If a rental property has been so seriously damaged as to be unsafe or uninhabitable, section 59 of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 states that the rent stops and tenants can give 2 days notice to terminate the tenancy. The landlord can give 7 days notice to terminate the tenancy.
If the premises are partially destroyed, or part of the premises are so seriously damaged as to be unsafe or uninhabitable then the rent stops accordingly and either party can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal for an order terminating the tenancy.
Landlords or tenants with concerns can call 0800 TENANCY - 0800 83 62 62 for advice.
Health warnings
It’s important to heed public health messages over the next days and weeks including:
• Boil water for three minutes before drinking, brushing teeth or washing/preparing food.
• Use as little water as possible to flush your toilet if you have water.
• Remember hand washing stops diseases spreading.
• Look after each other - keep in touch with families, friends and neighbours and support each other.
• Avoid contact with sewage. Don't gather fish or shellfish in the sea or from Canterbury rivers.
• If you are unwell with a minor injury or illness and need medical assistance call your general practice or nearest after-hours surgery. Please keep the Emergency Department for emergencies only. If you need an ambulance call 111.
For Further information contact my office- I would be pleased to hear from you.
All the best
Nicky
Hi Everyone,
Now that most of us have got power back and therefore email I thought I would sent you a earthquake update. And also the latest on infrastructure progress.
Like everyone else in the city I had a shocking awakening on Saturday morning- although luckily because I live in a newish house damage was only cosmetic. Just a bit of broken crockery and pictures off the wall.
After picking my way through the rubble strewn streets in the pitch black I was down at the Regional Civil Defence by 5.30am and they were already up and running. Then onto the City Council where Bob and his team were also underway and the Art Gallery emergency centre was being set up. Everywhere I went calm professionals were just getting on with the job. Although one told me - she believes that Civil Defence Workers are like ducks- "they glide along the surface making everything look effortless but underneath they are paddling like hell."
After seeing some of the damage in the city of course we were expecting the worst in terms of fatalities but none were immediately reported. On the behest of the Minister of Health Tony Ryall I visited both Accident and Emergency and St John Ambulance- again just quiet efficiency and getting on with the job. By lunchtime it was becoming evident that miraculously no-one had been killed, plenty of cuts, bruises and breaks and even a couple of people in Intensive Care but unbelievably not the casualty numbers that we have learned to expect with an earthquake of this magnitude.
I spent some time yesterday afternoon with the Mayor Bob Parker, the Prime Minister, Gerry Brownlee and David Carter looking at the worst parts of the city and making sure that the city had enough resources to many the situation. We were shown the whole extent of the damage, buildings, roads, bridges, broken pipes and sewerage and some of the areas where houses are uninhabitable. The Prime Minster has promised the Mayor all the assistance the city needs and assured him that the Earthquake Commission has plenty of funds available to pay out claims.
And Cantabarians has responded in true can-do Canterbury fashion to the emergency. There has been widespread volunteering and genuine goodwill in neighbourhoods across the province. Professionals and volunteers have worked tirelessly to keep people safe and restore essential services. Staff in all service organisations have fronted up. Many have volunteered to come in on days off or start their shifts early.
Neighbours have done their bit. Dozens of times I have heard people say that they have met, and helped, neighbours that they have never known before. In fact, many have really gone the extra mile, locals were able to shop just hours after the quake at the Wairakei Road Supervalue because neighbours had mucked in for several hours in the dark to help the owners clean up and restack shelves.
Everyone has done their bit and I have to say that right now I feel really proud to be a Cantabrian.
Latest Civil Defence Information
More than a thousand people have called the Government’s earthquake helpline for assistance. The 0800 double seven – triple nine – seven helpline has been operating since 4pm yesterday. Staff answering calls have provided advice and referrals for 1,070 people affected by yesterday’s massive earthquake.
People calling the helpline can get information on income support, housing options, health issues, community assistance, clean-up and how to contact any other services people may need.
The helpline, coordinated by the Ministry of Social Development’s Work and Income service, will run 24 hours a day.
Building Evaluation
The team have assessed about half of the cordoned-off area of the central city. The road cordons will be lifted as soon as Police and Civil Defence are satisfied that the area is safe.
The buildings which have been assessed have colour-coded notices placed on them to show their status following the earthquake.
Commercial buildings in the city are being given a safety status of either Green, Yellow or Red - with Red meaning no occupation and Green having no restriction on occupancy.
The assessment teams are advising owners also to engage a structural engineer if they have any doubts on the building.
The status notices are as follows:
GREEN: Building inspected and no restriction on occupancy based on the inspection. You may still want to get the building checked by a structural engineer.
YELLOW: Restricted Use - no entry except on essential business. The advice for the owners of these buildings is to get the building checked by structural engineers. Entry only for essential purposes like damage assessment, making safe or as indicated on the check boxes.
RED: Do not enter or occupy - building is seriously damaged and unsafe based on our inspection. This is not a demolition order. The advice for the owners of these buildings is to get the building checked by structural engineers and not to enter or allow entry to the building.
Power Supply
Orion tells me that they have now restored power supply to approximately 95% of their customers.
One of the reasons for the delays in some areas is that we have to thoroughly check our network equipment to ensure that further damage won’t be caused when we turn the power back on.
It may be 2-3 days before power can be restored to some customers. In extreme cases, where a single home or business is still without power in an area where power has otherwise been restored, it may take 4 or 5 days.
Orion has worked hard to engineer its network to be resilient in these kinds of events, and as a result no major network assets were seriously damaged by the quake, meaning power has been restored reasonably rapidly in many areas.
Due to the fact that none of our major equipment failed, customers still affected by power cuts are in pockets scattered across the network, rather than being concentrated in a few specific areas.
Water Supply
Managing water supplies and waste water is our biggest challenge especially in the East of the city. Yesterday engineers identified over 100 breaks in the system and they are actively working their way through those breaks. Wherever water is still unable to be reticulated tanker trucks are available.
All sewerage pumping stations are now operational and the sewerage treatment plant is in operation. But people are still asked to boil water for three minutes until testing proves that it is safe.
However, the system is delicate and people are still being asked to conserve water and to minimise flushing.
Solid Waste
All rubbish collections and services will be available this week.
Food Availability
Most supermarkets will be open tomorrow.
School Closures
Schools and early childhood centres in Christchurch, Waimakariri, and Selwyn districts will be closed until Wednesday following Chief Medical Officer of Health advising all public buildings are to remain closed until Wednesday.
School closures are advisable in the best interests of safety and continued assessment of school property.
Welfare Centres
These are open at Linwood High School, Addington Raceway and Burnside High School. If you need any help just come along. I will be working at Linwood tonight.
Local information
Call the City Council Helpline – 941-8999
Finally- some tips on getting your insurance claims underway
I hope you all sleep well tonight!
All the best for the new week
Widespread volunteering and genuine goodwill in the wake of Saturday morning’s devastating earthquake have shown can-do Cantabrians at their best, says National MP Nicky Wagner.
The MP has spend the past 36 hours assisting at various welfare, civil defence and emergency service locations, and has been humbled by the level of generosity and willingness to assist others everywhere she visits.
At both the Regional and Christchurch City Civil Defence Headquarters, Nicky says volunteers have worked tirelessly to keep people safe and restore essential services.
“Christchurch Hospital Accident and Emergency department and St John Ambulance staff handled emergencies swiftly and efficiently and many volunteered to come in on days off or start their shifts early.”
Nicky witnessed similar dedication at Wairakei Road Supervalue, where locals were able to shop just hours after the quake because neighbours had mucked in for several hours in the dark to help the owners clean up and restack shelves.
“It’s times likes this that make me proud to be a Cantabrian,” says Nicky Wagner. “We treasure our city and we want to see it get back on its feet as quickly as possible.”
Daffodil Day is the Cancer Society's annual flagship event and one of the most important fundraising and awareness campaigns in the country. With 1 in 3 New Zealanders affected by cancer it is important that we all support it generously. Donations go towards vital scientific research into the causes and treatment of all types of cancer, as well as providing a wide range of support services, to reduce cancer risk, and support people affected by cancer.
Nicky talks about events happening in Parliament, specifically the "Big A Awards" - Arts Access Awards.
It’s always great to recognize people who are doing special things. Last week the Big ‘A’ Awards 2010 celebrated some awesome creative work. The Awards were presented by Arts Access Aotearoa, which acts as a catalyst in promoting artistic opportunities for some of our most vulnerable groups, the disability sector, disconnected youth, mental health service users, disadvantaged migrants, refugees and prisoners.
There were four major winners Toi Ora Live Art Trust of Auckland won the Big ‘A’ Creative space Award. Each term more than 130 people attend classes in their community Arts Centre. The judges were impressed by Toi Ora Live Arts Trust’s “wow factor”. It has a strong public profile, a list of awards and achievements and offers a wide range of art forms and programmes in its new premises.
The Big ‘A’ Community Partnership Award went to Enliven Longview Rest Home, Society of St Vincent de Paul and Vinnies of St Francis Xavier School and St Francis Xavier School of Tawa in Wellington. These three organizations created opportunities for an inter-generational exchange of ideas and creativity between the residents of the Rest Home and the children of St Francis Xavier School. Projects have included crafts, musical and dance performances, storytelling and oral histories
The Big ‘A’ Prison Art leadership Awards went to Robyn Hughes, a long term and enormously respected art tutor at Auckland Prison. Robyn has been an art tutor at the prison for 17 years. She is totally dedicated to developing prisoners artistic talent and has had some stunning success. Her positive influence cans be seen in the murals around Auckland Prison and in the changing attitudes in the men she works with.
The Big ‘A’ Winton and Margaret Bear Young Artist Award went to Duncan Armstrong from Wellington. Duncan has not let Down syndrome stop him performing, succeeding academically or pursuing his goal of a career in the Arts. Duncan is a drummer, dancer, actor and kapa haka performer. We were treated to a glimpse of his work when his band ‘Mr Handsome’ played “I get by with a little help from my friends” It was brilliant!