Frustrated residents in Christchurch's red zone rallied yesterday against what they say is unfair treatment by insurance companies and the Government.
More than 200 homeowners from the city's red zones joined the rally to highlight issues for home owners and call for action.
The city's red zone's residents were facing "significant" problems around transparency and a lack of information from their insurers, and with the Government's's property buy-out deal, said spokesman for community group WeCan, Wider Earthquake Communities' Action Network, the Rev Mike Coleman.
"[Insurers are] holding back an awful lot of information that clients don't have, to make decisions. Right across the red zone there's no way people can move forward," he said.
Mr Coleman is red-zoned in Avonside.
There was also a need to review existing rateable values which had undervalued people's homes, Mr Coleman said.
Because of this, many would not be able to buy another piece of land to rebuild and would be forced to rent or leave the city, he said.
Mr Coleman said insurance companies needed to honour full replacement policies for homes that were due for demolition in the red zone, and the action group was challenging the Government to make sure that happened.
It was also calling for the Government to take a more active role in improving the availability and affordability of sections for new homes, to give residents relocation options without losing equity or increasing their debt burden.
Mr Coleman said he contacted Prime Minister John Key two weeks ago, asking for a meeting between the Prime Minister and red zone residents, and was waiting for confirmation it would go ahead.
Further rallies and marches around red zone issues were planned from next week.
