A Christchurch Maori academic, Rawiri Taonui, says Thursday's quake announcement in Christchurch is good news for many homeowners, but the Government needs to come up with an assistance package for low income renters.
The Government has offered to buy badly damaged homes in areas that cannot be rebuilt on, and assume all the insurance claims other than contents.
Or it will purchase just the land, leaving owners to deal with their own insurer over buildings.
Mr Taonui told Waatea News the hardest hit areas - such as Bexley, Avonside and Dallington - include large numbers of low-income Maori who rent homes that may now be set for demolition.
