Petition to extend the Red Zone 30 April deadline

Recently Red Zoned residents in the Burwood area have launched a petition to have the 30 April deadline extended. The following is from those organising the petition:

Over 80 households in the Burwood red-zone will not have homes ready to move into by the end of April. They have therefore launched a petition to request an extension with the following text.

Many red-zoned residents will not be ready to move out of the red-zone by the end of April 2013 for a variety of reasons for which they carry little responsibility. Most commonly, they have been unable to settle with their insurance companies or the homes they are building are not ready because of delays relating to titles for land, consents, shortage of building materials etc. Forcing them to leave in April has a number of potential negative consequences: the acceptance of unfavourable settlements, increased financial losses including the payment of rent, rental accommodation inferior to their present home; moving twice rather than once, loss of opportunity to relocate gardens, further disruption and stress. Forcing them into an already stressed rental market does not reflect wise decision making, neither from the point of view of those in the red zone nor others competing in the rental market. Nor does adding to the stress of those badly affected by the earthquake reflect the concern for human rights that should be an integral part of a democratic system and makes nonsense of stated concerns for the well-being of Christchurch citizens.

Any red-zone resident wishing to sign this petition or to collect signatures in their own area can contact Ngaire at njehle@ihug.co.nz

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