Brownlee denies knowledge of Southern Response deception
Checkpoint, Radio New Zealand, 19 August 2019
"Misleading & deceptive" - that's how the High Court has described the behaviour of Southern Response - the state owned quake insurer.
The Chair of Southern Response's board Alister James told Checkpoint an appeal is being considered on the High Court judgement handed down Friday.
Mr James also told us that Southern Response customers can be assured their unresolved claims will be handled by another agency in some form or another once Southern Response is mothballed at the end of the year.
We also asked Grant Robertson to come on either in his capacity as Finance or Earthquake Commission Minister but he issued a statement saying he has sought advice from Treasury about potential liability.
The Minister responsible at the time of Southern Response's "misleading" action was former EQC Minister, Gerry Brownlee.
Lisa Owen asks when Mr Brownlee found out that Southern Response was running a two-quote Detailed Repair Assessment. Mr Brownlee says he only found out when the judgement was made.
The Press, 19 August 2019
Gerry Brownlee says Southern Response ordered to behave in a 'fair and reasonable manner'
The former Canterbury earthquake recovery minister says he was not aware Southern Response was holding back some rebuild cost information from its customers.
Full story on The Press: https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/115115361/gerry-brownlee-says-southern-response-was-told-to-behave-in-a-fair-and-reasonable-manner