Frustrated and tired Southern Response policy holders and supporters will protest slow progress outside the company offices in Show Place from 7am on December 2.
The civil protest is being organised by Steve Gurney and city councillor Ali Jones. The pair are hoping that the gathering will result in real engagement with Peter Rose and his managers at Southern Response.
“The protest is a chance for everyone to stand up for their rights, together with their supporters,” Steve says. Living in Queenstown while his red stickered and red-zoned Christchurch property is sorted, Steve recently went on Campbell Live with his own issues. He has employed a Quality Surveyor and a lawyer to progress his case.
“I am appalled at the abhorrent treatment people have been getting from Southern Response and the terrible effect it is having on their lives, their health, their jobs, their families. These people are so worn down by the months and years of stress and uncertainty about the most basic of needs, shelter, refuge and life savings, that they are overwhelmed. When people get this low, taking action takes a massive amount of energy. Fighting back with legal action is often too expensive and too stressful. This gathering on Monday is a way to band together. It’s too hard to battle on our own and with a combined voice we will finally have the power to communicate that what is happening is unacceptable and put some pressure on those who can address the problems many are still facing years after the events.”
Ali Jones’ family, out of their home for two years, has also engaged a lawyer to try and progress their claim with Southern Response but a request to meet with Southern Response over the issues has been rejected.
Policy holders are dealing with unreasonable delays exacerbated by misinformation, incorrect assessments from Arrow, and poor communication. Ali says that residents are facing “additional costs including rental top ups, rates being paid on uninhabitable homes, insurance premiums being paid on uninhabitable homes and additional professional advice obtained when a claimant has to support their challenge of SR’s decisions or assessments – this is crippling some people and it is unacceptable.”
“What our family is continuing to deal with and the resulting stress, including increased financial pressures, is something all too common and it cannot be allowed to continue.”
There is no planned end time to the protest, which could last all day.
Source: Based on a media release from Ali Jones’ PR company
