5. AARON GILMORE (National) Link to this
to the Minister of Civil Defence
What is the update on the Canterbury civil defence states of emergency?
Hon JOHN CARTER (Minister of Civil Defence) Link to this
I am pleased to say that the three mayors of the affected districts in Canterbury—that is, Selwyn, Waimakariri, and Christchurch—have today lifted the states of emergency in their districts. This was 12 days after the 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit Canterbury and left its trail of devastation, which, thankfully, did not involve any loss of life. A lot of things have happened in those 12 days to the people of Canterbury. With the ongoing aftershocks that they continue to experience, it must feel like a very long 12 days. However, given the magnitude of the earthquake, it is important to note that 12 days is quite a short space of time to have essential services restored to most people and life back to relatively normal. The civil defence emergency management group plan worked well in ensuring the safety and security of the people in affected areas. This was due to the incredible efforts of the Canterbury civil defence group and the Canterbury local authorities involved, supported in Wellington by the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management.
The states of emergency were extended for 24 hours to ensure a smooth transition from a state of emergency to a state of urgency under the Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Act 2010. There was still some legislative work to be completed yesterday, and the mayors in the affected areas decided to retain the declaration to ensure a smooth and safe transition to the recovery phase in Canterbury. The three mayors in the region, Bob Parker, Ron Keating, and Kelvin Coe, have shown true leadership during this difficult time in Canterbury. I commend them for their work above and beyond the call of duty. I extend this commendation to all the officials—civil defence, local government, armed forces, police, education, and health—as well as the many volunteers whose physical work and acts of kindness have shown the true spirit of Canterbury.
Hon Lianne Dalziel Link to this
Is the Minister aware that the use by civil defence personnel and the councils of green, yellow, and red stickers to identify immediate and apparent health and safety risks to occupiers of property is being treated as a status report on whether a residence can be lived in; if so, what steps is he taking to address this inappropriate and potentially dangerous situation?
Yes, I am aware of that issue. Indeed, I have had discussions about it today with representatives of the three local authorities. There has been ongoing publicity about that issue to try to get an explanation of what those certificates actually mean. They are certificates of the moment; just because a house has a green sticker today does not necessarily mean that it will have a green sticker tomorrow. That depends on aftershocks and other issues. Basically, their significance may change on a day-by-day basis. Unfortunately, there is not enough knowledge among the public about what those certificates represent. We are doing our very best to get that knowledge out. I have asked the councils today to give further explanation about what they mean. The member is quite right to raise the issue and I am glad she has, because it gives me a chance to explain further that the certificates are of the moment. Basically, a green sticker means that a house is safe at the moment—
Well, it means that people can occupy the house at the moment, but it does not mean to say that that situation will remain; further studies will need to be done and information given to the owners and the occupiers.
Hon Lianne Dalziel Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I fear that in asking that question I have allowed the Minister to repeat the error that is being publicly made out there. The green stickers do not mean buildings are safe—
Mr SPEAKERThe member cannot dispute the Minister’s answer by way of point of order. The member can use a further supplementary question to question what she believes may be an inaccuracy in the Minister’s answer. I am perfectly happy to let her ask a further supplementary question, but it will have to come out of Labour’s total number of supplementary questions.
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. If it is helpful, I am very happy to discuss this matter with the member after question time. If she thinks there is an issue to be debated, I am happy to make further statements publicly so that information can be distributed.
I appreciate the Minister’s contribution but it is not actually a point of order. Does the member wish to ask a further supplementary question to clarify the issue?
Hon Lianne Dalziel Link to this
Can the Minister confirm that the green, yellow, and red stickers identify whether a building inspector in a 10-minute check has perceived an immediate and apparent health and safety risk, and do not mean that it is safe to occupy a property? A green-stickered house may be dangerous and a red-stickered house may be safe.
I will endeavour to clarify this matter, because it is important, and I am sorry if it takes a moment to do so. As I said, these stickers are of the moment. A green sticker means that when a house was last inspected it was considered able to be occupied. If a house has a yellow sticker, it means that it is dangerous to enter; people can, but they must not occupy it. If a house has a red sticker, people must not go in that property. The point is that, with all of these things, there has to be further examination: there has to be structural examination of the houses, and there has to be examination of the foundations of the properties. All of that work is being carried out now as methodically and as rapidly as we can, but we do not yet have all of the information to be able to say for certain whether a house is absolutely safe. The green sticker is merely an indication of the situation at the moment. It is really important for people to understand that. The member may be right: it may well be that a house that at the moment is considered to be safe may not necessarily be so in 5 minutes’ or 2 days’ time. We are still endeavouring to ascertain that information.
Hon Lianne Dalziel Link to this
Is the Minister aware that the stickers are being used as a marker for eligibility for emergency grants by the New Zealand Red Cross Canterbury Earthquake Commission; and what steps will he take to ensure that this is rectified?
No. I must say that that is the first I have heard of that issue. If the member wishes to give me further information, I will certainly explore that. That is the sort of thing I need to know so that I can address it, and I thank the member for bringing it to my attention.
Hon Lianne Dalziel Link to this
I seek leave to table “Fact Sheet—Emergency Grants”, which requires people to have been issued with a red or yellow inspection certificate to qualify.