EQC chair quits, with an apology
Earthquake Commission (EQC) board chairman Sir Maarten Wevers has resigned and an independent ministerial adviser will be sent into EQC to help speed up the remaining Canterbury earthquake claims.
Megan Woods, minister responsible for the EQC, made the dual announcement at the Christchurch EQC offices yesterday.
‘‘I’ve made it clear I am not satisfied with where EQC is at in respect of the Canterbury Earthquake work seven years on from the February 22 event.
‘‘For the around 2600 people with unresolved claims, being stuck in limbo is unacceptable. We’ve got to see faster progress for these people so that they can get their lives back on track,’’ she said.
Woods said the adviser would report directly to her.
‘‘Today I have accepted the resignation of Sir Maarten Wevers, chair of the EQC board, and I thank him for his service. Next week I will be appointing an interim chair to oversee the changes I believe need to be made to speed up this process.
‘‘I acknowledge there are people at EQC in Christchurch and around the country who are working hard but it’s clear to me that extra assistance is required to allow EQC to respond quickly and effectively to the challenge of sorting out the remaining claims.’’
Wevers has chaired the board of the Earthquake Commission since 2013.
Woods said the adviser would report their view on operational changes needed back to her.
‘‘I intend this to be a senior public servant who would also work with MBIE [the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment] around the wider insurance issue.’’
Wevers said it was clear Woods had no confidence in the commission’s board or staff.
‘‘As chair, I take responsibility for that, and have stepped aside so that the minister can appoint someone whom she assesses will be able to do a better job,’’ he said.
He noted that having 2600 claims outstanding out of more than 470,000 lodged was no comfort to the board, management and staff.
Repairs to more than 67,000 dwellings was unprecedented internationally, Wevers said.
‘‘Every single claim is a concern to the board and to me personally.
‘‘Mistakes have been made, customers have not always been supported as they should have been, when they should have been, and it has taken a long time to reach the final stages of our response.
‘‘We apologise to each and every claimant to whom we have not delivered as we should have.’’
It was with ‘‘great regret’’ he would not be able to support commission staff and management ‘‘over the last few steps on our journey together’’.
‘‘I will be letting them down.’’