Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission Te Komihana Rūwhenua o Waitaha Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission – Te Komihana Rūwhenua o Waitaha

Those who lost relatives and friends in the 22 February earthquake can be assured that there will be a very thorough inquiry into the failure of buildings that resulted in loss of life.
Chair, Justice Mark Cooper
 

MEDIA RELEASE

5 August 2011

Quake Commission meets with bereaved families

Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission Chair Justice Mark Cooper and Communications Senior Advisor Robin Major have met with 24 families bereaved by the Canterbury earthquakes.

Major acted as Community and Family Liaison Officer until Kate Collins took up the role on 25 July.

Collins is arranging appointments with a further nine family members who have requested private meetings. A group meeting scheduled for 25 July was postponed due to the snow but is being rescheduled.

Justice Cooper and Major met with Quake Families co-chairmen Dr Maan Alkaisi and Brian Kennedy, whose group is made up of some of the bereaved families and includes survivors, on 18 July.

The meetings are in response to a letter Justice Cooper wrote to 207 people who lost loved ones due to the collapse of buildings in the 22 February earthquake including members of the Quake Families group and other families in New Zealand, Australia, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Israel, Great Britain, Taiwan, USA, Canada, Philippines, Japan, Korea, Ireland and Turkey. His letter has been translated into the appropriate languages.   Some families have indicated they do not wish to meet with the Commission but wish to be kept informed of the inquiry’s progress.

When the Coroner’s inquests resume, Collins will also be available to meet with bereaved families there.

The Commission has also met with CTV staff.

Families are also providing Counsel Assisting, Stephen Mills QC and Mark Zarifeh, with information to assist the inquiry. Counsel Assisting have had meetings with Dr Alkaisi and Kennedy.

“Significant resources are being directed at gathering information from anyone who has relevant information about how the buildings collapsed. This includes family members,” explains Mills.

“Under the Commissions of Inquiry Act the Commission has extensive powers to investigate including the power to require the provision of information and to summons witnesses. These are powers only the Commission has.”

ENDS

Media contact

Robin Major
Senior Communications Advisor, Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission
Phone 021 621 656
email: robin.major@royalcommission.govt.nz