The calendar on Krystal Brens’ fridge still shows the month of October, 2024.
The Dunedin mother of three has not been allowed to set foot in her Clyde Hill home since it was red-stickered following October’s flood and now she says she will have to make up the more than $140,000 shortfall in repair funds herself.
"I’m anxiety-ridden, I struggle to function and think, but ... I want to come home."
While her house was fully insured, the land it sits on had slipped and one of the house piles had cracked.
The damage, caused by the landslip, fell under the responsibility of the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake (NHC), formally the Earthquake Commission, and was not covered by insurance.
NHC would pay out the lesser of either the value of the affected land or the repair costs.
Last week, she was told the NHC would contribute $35,000 towards building repairs and $52,000 worth of land repairs, based on the the land value.
However, the estimated cost of land repairs was more than $193,000 — leaving Ms Brens with $141,000 to come up with herself.
"I couldn’t believe it," she said.
"The next day it really sunk in and I struggled to get up out of bed — I still had to go to work."
"I have no option but to fix the house.
"I don’t want to sell the house and even if that was something I wanted to do, I actually cannot do it, because the NHC payout stipulates that the money has to be used on the house and the land repairs; if it is not, then they may not cover me in future."
She said the situation was taking its toll on her and her girls, who she shared custody of.
The family could not re-enter the house or gather their belonging until after geotechnical work made it safe to live in, she said.
"I had one of the kids lash out at me and blame me for the house, and the whole situation — it was heartbreaking.
"I know she didn’t mean it. She was just struggling to understand and cope with it."
"Time’s working against me.
"I need to get back home before I’m paying rent out of my own pocket, and a mortgage, and rates.
"I cannot afford it."
Ms Brens said she was incredibly grateful for the support her family had received so far — including a Givealittle set up by a friend.
"I just need support in getting my house fixed — the debt’s going to be huge, I can’t take it all on myself.
"I have saved every penny that I can," she said.
"I have no option [but] to go into crippling debt — how is that OK?"
NHC head of claims Bernadette McDougall said the agency’s land cover was intended to be a contribution towards repairs.
"It often won’t be enough to fully repair all of the damage to a homeowner’s land after a natural hazard event," she said.
Under legislation, NHC had to pay the lesser of repair or the land cover up to a cap to ensure collected levies could meet the cost of claims.
"By covering the initial losses up to the cap under the legislation ... the scheme helps spread the financial burden across all insured homeowners."
"The levies are then ‘pooled’ in a fund which is used to pay out on claims for residential damage, up to a cap determined by legislation."
