The Labour Party says it want to know why the Earthquake Commission is flagging and tracking high-profile claimants with quake-damaged homes in Canterbury.
Photo: RNZ
The party's earthquake recovery spokesperson, Clayton Cosgrove, says documents obtained from the commission under the Official Information Act show it was tracking television personalities, sports stars and journalists.
Mr Cosgrove says Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee needs to explain why the high-profile category was created and on whose instructions the commission acted.
Last week Mr Brownlee admitted there were more people classed as vulnerable who were waiting for earthquake repairs than the commission had previously calculated.
The commission says no one has received prioritisation.
"I'll accept that," says Mr Cosgrove. "But the question is then: why are they flagged? They say they're flagged for reporting purposes - reporting to who? About what?"
