Christchurch MP Jim Anderton says earthquake-embattled businesses in his constituency will founder unless organisations work together to save them.
Mr Anderton, the MP for Wigram, says the problems that Sydenham businesses are facing are replicated throughout the city.
He is calling on Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee to support a meeting of all agencies to sort out the issues.
Mr Anderton says many businesses and property owners in the Sydenham area alone are facing a large number problems, including those involving from insurance assistance, building owners not being in a position to make decisions and outside suppliers demanding payment up-front.
He says unsafe buildings are holding up the opening of streets and in some cases whole blocks, preventing customers getting to stores that are technically open for trading.
In this case, he asks whether insurance companies are treating companies as "open" and therefore not able to claim.
Mr Anderton is calling for a "multi-agency approach" where representatives of the Government, insurance companies, Christchurch City Council, and business and property owners get around the table to find solutions to individual problems.
