By Jessica Rowe
7000 homeowners showed up to get advice from the building companies, developers and insurers at Cera's housing expo.
Avondale residents John Abraham and Amanda Hadlee's house is in the red zone. They have been looking at relocation sites, but cannot make any decisions until insurance assessors visit their home.
“We've got about five or six different options potentially, so it is a bit stressful because we have to look at all of those options,” says Ms Hadlee. “It would be good to come along and have some idea on where we'd be heading, but we don't so we have to run with that.”
Toni Andrews is living in the orange zone, which means she does not know whether her house will be demolished or repaired.
“It's really good, there is a lot of information but there are no answers.”
Community group Cancern is helping many earthquake victims and encouraging them to summon the courage to regain control of their lives.
“There are a number of people who are still finding it difficult to make decisions, and therefore knowing what to do is hard,” says Cancern’s Brian Parker. “But there are a number of people who want to do things, so when do you start? I think just start now.”
But Cera chief executive Roger Sutton says it is important that businesses at the expo do not pressure vulnerable residents into commitments they might regret.
“70 different organisations are exhibiting and operating under rules that they can't sign people up.
“Its important people take the time to gather information and made informed decisions.”
So for many of Christchurch’s quake affected residents, it was another day spent gathering as much information as possible but ultimately, finding no answers.
3 News