EQR Hub Assessor Qualifications

Jake Preston made this Official Information request to Toka Tū Ake – Natural Hazards Commission

The request was partially successful.

From: Jake Preston

Dear Earthquake Commission,

This is a request under the Official Information Act. I would like to know the qualifications and expertise of all Assessors that have worked at the Mairehau Hub of EQC, particularly with reference to behaviour of foundations in soils which have experienced multiple incidences of liquefaction.

Yours faithfully,

Jake Preston

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From: EQC Info Mailbox

Thank you for contacting the Earthquake Commission (EQC).

We will respond to your email as soon as possible. If you require urgent assistance, please phone our call centre on 0800 DAMAGE (326 243) or for international callers, please phone +64 4 978 6400. Alternatively, please check the Frequently Asked Questions on our website www.eqc.govt.nz. <http://canterbury.eqc.govt.nz/faq>
________________________________________________________________
This email message (along with any attachments) is intended
only for the addressee(s) named above.
The information contained in this email is confidential to the
New Zealand Earthquake Commission (EQC)and must not be used,
reproduced or passed on without consent.
If you have received this email in error, informing EQC by
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Please delete this email if you are not the intended addressee.
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From: Jake Preston

Dear EQC Info Mailbox,

I was hoping to have had a response to my request under the official information act regarding EQR Hub Assessor Qualifications for the Mairehau Hub. By law you should have responded promptly and by 21 September 2012. This has not happened, why is this, and when can I expect that information to be released?

Yours sincerely,

Jake Preston

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From: Official Information Act Requests

Dear Mr Preston

Thank you for your request for information under the Official Information Act 1982.

Unfortunately, the Earthquake Commission has been unable to process your request within the timeframe provided under the Official Information Act 1982. This is due to the unprecedented number of requests EQC has recently received.

In order to respond to requests in a fair and reasonable manner, we are processing requests in order of receipt. In some instances, we may be able to prioritise a request if circumstances exist where a request needs to be processed immediately, for example, there may be very serious health or financial concerns. If you consider that your request should be prioritised, please contact us outlining the concerns, along with supporting documentation.

We understand this response may be unsatisfactory and you are entitled to make a complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman.

Please be assured that we are processing requests as swiftly as possible. We appreciate your patience and apologise for the inconvenience.

Yours sincerely
Barbara Graham | OIA Administrator | The Earthquake Commission (EQC)

-----Original Message-----
From: Jake Preston [mailto:[OIA #520 email]]
Sent: Sunday, 26 August 2012 6:54 p.m.
To: EQC Info Mailbox
Subject: Official Information Act request - EQR Hub Assessor Qualifications

Dear Earthquake Commission,

This is a request under the Official Information Act. I would like
to know the qualifications and expertise of all Assessors that have
worked at the Mairehau Hub of EQC, particularly with reference to
behaviour of foundations in soils which have experienced multiple
incidences of liquefaction.

Yours faithfully,

Jake Preston

________________________________________________________________
This email message (along with any attachments) is intended
only for the addressee(s) named above.
The information contained in this email is confidential to the
New Zealand Earthquake Commission (EQC)and must not be used,
reproduced or passed on without consent.
If you have received this email in error, informing EQC by
return email or by calling (04)978 6400 should ensure the error
is not repeated.

Please delete this email if you are not the intended addressee.
_______________________________________________________________

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From: Jake Preston

Dear Official Information Act Requests,

It is now 2 months later, still no information. In this time EQC has answered requests made after this request was made. This is contrary to what you stated in your past response. If you are simply refusing to respond would you please state that.If not why have requests made after this one been answered when this request has not?

Yours sincerely,

Jake Preston

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From: Lara Carson


Attachment R Job description EQC Assessor.pdf
912K Download View as HTML


Dear Mr Preston

I apologise for the lengthy delay in processing your request.

I can confirm that the Assessor working from the Mairehau Hub has over 30 years in the building industry as a Builder, Planner, Designer, Project Manager and Managing Director, as well experience in Property Management. You will also find attached the position description for all EQC Assessors.

Kind regards

Lara Carson | Team Leader Technical and Statutory Complaints | The Earthquake Commission (EQC) 

-----Original Message-----
From: Jake Preston [mailto:[OIA #520 email]]
Sent: Friday, 30 November 2012 8:43 p.m.
To: Official Information Act Requests
Subject: Internal review of Official Information Act request - EQR Hub Assessor Qualifications

Dear Official Information Act Requests,

It is now 2 months later, still no information. In this time EQC
has answered requests made after this request was made. This is
contrary to what you stated in your past response. If you are
simply refusing to respond would you please state that.If not why
have requests made after this one been answered when this request
has not?

Yours sincerely,

Jake Preston

-----Original Message-----

Dear Mr Preston

Thank you for your request for information under the Official
Information Act 1982.

Unfortunately, the Earthquake Commission has been unable to process
your request within the timeframe provided under the Official
Information Act 1982. This is due to the unprecedented number of
requests EQC has recently received.

In order to respond to requests in a fair and reasonable manner, we
are processing requests in order of receipt. In some instances, we
may be able to prioritise a request if circumstances exist where a
request needs to be processed immediately, for example, there may
be very serious health or financial concerns. If you consider that
your request should be prioritised, please contact us outlining the
concerns, along with supporting documentation.

We understand this response may be unsatisfactory and you are
entitled to make a complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman.

Please be assured that we are processing requests as swiftly as
possible. We appreciate your patience and apologise for the
inconvenience.

Yours sincerely
Barbara Graham | OIA Administrator | The Earthquake Commission
(EQC)

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[OIA #520 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be
published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
http://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an OIA officer, please ask your
web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

________________________________________________________________
This email message (along with any attachments) is intended
only for the addressee(s) named above.
The information contained in this email is confidential to the
New Zealand Earthquake Commission (EQC)and must not be used,
reproduced or passed on without consent.
If you have received this email in error, informing EQC by
return email or by calling (04)978 6400 should ensure the error
is not repeated.

Please delete this email if you are not the intended addressee.
_______________________________________________________________

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From: Jake Preston

Dear Lara Carson,

I dont see how this has answered the question I asked. What are the assessor's qualifications particularly in respect to foundation movement in liquified soils over multiple incidences of liquefaction? This is the key question I asked, and would like a response to.

Yours sincerely,

Jake Preston

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From: Lara Carson

Dear Mr Preston

Please find the following statement from the assessor you have referred to in your request for information:

“I have been both an EQC estimator and assessor now for 2.5 years. During this time I have received training from professional engineers involved with EQC and the rebuild in Christchurch.
Prior to this I have been involved in many aspects of the construction industry (including building and design) for over 30 years.
I also have tertiary qualifications including a university degree in physics and mathematics. I have lectured in a number of areas including topics such as earthquakes. This did involve items such as the "liquefaction process" and its effect on ground bearing structures.
Professional Qualifications include: Past member of New Zealand Institute of Physics (NZIP).”

Note that the assessor's role is primarily to
• verify original house assessments for the customer & Fletcher EQR
• approve changes to original scopes and oversee costing of repairs
• provide interpretations of the EQC Act & Building Act upon request
• update customers on claim status
• oversee repairs to buildings

Assessors are not required to have specific knowledge of foundation movement in liquefied soils. Please note that determining assessments and repair strategies for dwellings is on most occasions a team effort where a host of EQC specialists, such as engineers, will also review the assessments and estimations of others.

Kind regards
Lara Carson | Team Leader Technical and Statutory Complaints
The Earthquake Commission (EQC) | Kōmihana Rūwhenua

-----Original Message-----
From: Jake Preston [mailto:[OIA #520 email]]
Sent: Friday, 1 March 2013 1:08 p.m.
To: Lara Carson
Subject: RE: Internal review of Official Information Act request - EQR Hub Assessor Qualifications

Dear Lara Carson,

I dont see how this has answered the question I asked. What are the
assessor's qualifications particularly in respect to foundation
movement in liquified soils over multiple incidences of
liquefaction? This is the key question I asked, and would like a
response to.

Yours sincerely,

Jake Preston

-----Original Message-----

Dear Mr Preston

I apologise for the lengthy delay in processing your request.

I can confirm that the Assessor working from the Mairehau Hub has
over 30 years in the building industry as a Builder, Planner,
Designer, Project Manager and Managing Director, as well experience
in Property Management. You will also find attached the position
description for all EQC Assessors.

Kind regards

Lara Carson | Team Leader Technical and Statutory Complaints | The
Earthquake Commission (EQC) 

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[OIA #520 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be
published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
http://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an OIA officer, please ask your
web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

________________________________________________________________
This email message (along with any attachments) is intended
only for the addressee(s) named above.
The information contained in this email is confidential to the
New Zealand Earthquake Commission (EQC)and must not be used,
reproduced or passed on without consent.
If you have received this email in error, informing EQC by
return email or by calling (04)978 6400 should ensure the error
is not repeated.

Please delete this email if you are not the intended addressee.
_______________________________________________________________

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