THE PRESS TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 1987. Morning shake-up

Press, 10 March 1987, Page 12

THE PRESS TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 1987. Morning shake-up

The brief, sharp earthquake that interrupted breakfast at 7.18 yesterday was a reminder, if one were needed so soon after the Bay of Plenty tremor, that the whole of New Zealand is in an earthquake zone. Yesterday’s shake was quite light — 5.25 on the Richter scale, compared with 6.5 for the Bay of Plenty ’quake — but still strong enough to jolt awake those who were asleep, and to alarm those who were up and about. Damage was slight — a chimney down here and there, brick walls cracked, and minor damage to driveways. The earthquake was centred on an area underwater in Pegasus Bay, about 80km from Christchurch, where earthquakes have originated before. The Seismological Observatory in Wellington reports that it appears to have been a once-only event, although it was impossible to forecast whether there would be more. Certainly powerful earthquakes have occurred in the South Island in the past. In 1929, the Buller earthquake measured 7.8 on the Richter scale. A tremor of that magnitude would be devastating in a populated area.

No-one, therefore, can afford to be complacent. Although little can be done to forecast or prevent earthquakes, everyone

can take simple precautions to reduce their effects. The Civil Defence organisation, which appears to have worked well in the Bay of Plenty, deserves to be supported. At the very least, everyone should be familiar with the advice on what to do in a serious ’quake. That advice is printed in the telephone directory.

It is also the responsibility of every householder to be adequately insured. A levy on every fire insurance policy provides the funds that enable the Earthquake and War Damage Commission to pay out on earthquake damage. The Bay of Plenty incident has shown, once again, how many householders fail in the simple duty to provide adequate cover for themselves. The Insurance Council has estimated that onethird of those affected by the tremor will be either uninsured or underinsured.

Such people are forced to throw themselves on the charity of others, often with a plea for some form of Government subsidy. This is unfair, and in a disaster of any magnitude it would probably be beyond the resources of the country to meet. It may be that New Zealand, with its record of earthquakes, needs some form of compulsory insurance levy to provide for them.