7. LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō) Link to this
to the Minister of Energy and Resources
Will Cantabrians whose chimneys have been significantly damaged by the recent earthquake be covered by the Earthquake Commission to replace their old log burners or open fires with new, efficient heaters?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister for the Environment) Link to this
Yes. The Government thinks it is important for both air quality and future earthquake safety that we replace as many old chimneys as possible with efficient gas heaters, pellet heaters, clean log burners, or heat pumps, using Earthquake Commission recovery funds. Christchurch has long had a significant air pollution problem, and statistics from all of New Zealand’s major earthquakes—Murchison, Napier, Īnangahua, and now Canterbury—show that more deaths and injuries are caused by brick chimneys than by any other cause. This is an opportunity to rebuild a safer and cleaner Christchurch.
Has the Minister received any reports on the number of chimneys that collapsed due to Canterbury’s earthquake?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH Link to this
Yes. The Earthquake Commission reports that 15,000 chimneys came down during the Canterbury quake. Also, a number of injuries from collapsing chimneys have been reported to the Accident Compensation Corporation. This initiative involving potentially 15,000 households, at a cost of $7,000 per home, is an effective investment of up to $100 million in making Christchurch both safer and cleaner.