5 August 2011
Quake Commission Meets with Bereaved Families
Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission Chair Justice Mark Cooper and Communications Senior Advisor Robin Major have met
with 24 families bereaved by the Canterbury earthquakes.
Major acted as Community and Family Liaison Officer until Kate Collins took up the role on 25 July.
Collins is arranging appointments with a further nine family members who have requested private meetings. A group
meeting scheduled for 25 June was postponed due to the snow but is being rescheduled.
Justice Cooper and Major met with Quake Families co-chairmen Dr Maan Alkaisi and Brian Kennedy, whose group is made up
of some of the bereaved families and includes survivors, on 18 July.
The meetings are in response to a letter Justice Cooper wrote to 207 people who lost loved ones due to the collapse of
buildings in the 22 February earthquake including members of the Quake Families group and other families in New Zealand,
Australia, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Israel, Great Britain, Taiwan, USA, Canada, Philippines, Japan, Korea, Ireland and
Turkey. His letter has been translated into the appropriate languages. Some families have indicated they do not wish to
meet with the Commission but wish to be kept informed of the inquiry’s progress.
When the Coroner’s inquests resume, Collins will also be available to meet with bereaved families there.
The Commission has also met with CTV staff.
Families are also providing Counsel Assisting, Stephen Mills QC and Mark Zarifeh, with information to assist the
inquiry. Counsel Assisting have had meetings with Dr Alkaisi and Kennedy.
“Significant resources are being directed at gathering information from anyone who has relevant information about how
the buildings collapsed. This includes family members,” explains Mills.
“Under the Commissions of Inquiry Act the Commission has extensive powers to investigate including the power to require
the provision of information and to summons witnesses. These are powers only the Commission has.”
About the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission
The Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission in Christchurch was established in response to the building failure and loss
of life caused by the Canterbury earthquakes in February 2011.
A Royal Commission is the most serious response available to the New Zealand Government. Under the Commissions of Inquiry Act 1908 it has extensive powers to investigate including the power to require the provision of information and to summons
witnesses.
The Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission is chaired by sitting High Court judge Justice Mark Cooper. The other two
Commissioners are University of Canterbury Associate Professor Richard Fenwick and Sir Ron Carter.
The Commission will provide an interim report by 11 October 2011 and a final report no later than 11 April 2012.
ENDS