Chauvel Charles: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Chauvel Charles: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:671;Page:17531] 
6. 
CHARLES CHAUVEL (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister of Civil Defence 
: To date how many buildings have been demolished in Canterbury without notifications to the building or business owners? 
Hon JOHN CARTER (Minister of Civil Defence) 
: 
 Since the state of national emergency was declared on 23 February I am advised by the national controller he has authorised 139 buildings in Christchurch for deconstruction or demolition to ensure immediate safety. Of those 139 buildings 17 were authorised without contact being made with the building owner although thorough efforts were made to make such contact. Of the 17 it is worthwhile noting that 12 of them were authorised before 8 March when the search for survivors and body recovery were the primary focus. It is important to note that building owners only are notified of pending demolitions because the information that the national controller has from the city council comes off ratepayer data. 
Charles Chauvel 
: What steps if any were taken to ensure that building or business owners were able to retrieve valuables personal effects records or other items before the buildings were demolished? 
Hon JOHN CARTER 
: We on this side of the House are mindful of people’s safety. Indeed in the initial instance our focus was on rescue and then of course on recovery. At that stage those were our primary objectives and goods etc. were not in consideration at that time. Now we are conscious of the fact that where possible business owners should be able to retrieve their goods and we are ensuring that that can happen as speedily as possible without any risk to anybody. 
Charles Chauvel 
: What legislative authority has been relied upon to undertake the demolitions referred to in the primary question? 
Hon JOHN CARTER 
: The Civil Defence Emergency Management Act. 
John Hayes 
: What reports has he seen regarding the unauthorised demolition of commercial buildings in Christchurch? 
Hon JOHN CARTER 
: I have seen a number of reports where building and business owners have publicly discussed building demolitions. It is important to note that the national controller advises me that since the state of national emergency was declared on 23 February there have been no unauthorised demolitions of buildings within the cordon. I was particularly concerned to see articles quoting Christchurch property owner Anthony Gough in the  
Press 
 on 17 March and in the  
New Zealand Herald  
on 20 March saying that one of his Hereford Street buildings was demolished without his permission. It is clear that Mr Gough was notified early on that the building was severely damaged in partial collapse and threatening neighbouring buildings. It was inspected by two separate engineers who recommended demolition. Mr Gough was contacted and accepted the recommendation that the building be demolished. At the end of these questions I intend to seek leave to table those papers. 
Charles Chauvel 
: Has the Minister seen reports that businesses are likely to be given access to the cordoned zone from late this week and are those reports correct? 
Hon JOHN CARTER 
: Yes that is correct. We are endeavouring to do our very best to ensure that business owners can have access to their business. We think it is important that that takes place as rapidly as we can allow it. I should say to the House that the 22 February earthquake was hopefully a once-in-a-lifetime event and that it is true that we need to ensure that we have a systematic and safe system for people to retrieve their goods. 
Charles Chauvel 
: Has he seen reports that one building owner found out about the demolition of her building while she was watching a video playing at the earthquake memorial service; if so is that good enough; if it is not what further action will be taken to prevent or minimise demolitions without notice? 
Hon JOHN CARTER 
: As I said earlier the devastating earthquake on 22 February is hopefully a once-in-a-lifetime event. There are issues that we need to deal with and this is one of them. In the case of that particular person I have seen those reports. I am prepared to concede and this may come as a surprise to some of my colleagues—indeed all of them possibly—that I am not actually totally perfect and that there are things we are learning as we make progress on this issue.