I discussed the following this afternoon on Jim Mora's Panel after reflecting on a matter raised at two great parties in Canterbury this month.   

Cantabrians now have insurance assessor stories to add to their “sick of the aftershocks” stories. They are not boring, at least to a Wellingtonian waiting for the big one. But I was particularly interested in worries expressed about the culture  engendered by the claims hoopla, and the morality it rewards.

Though some have lost significantly, many have lost very little. But I'm told there is a climate of claiming for everything, and being encouraged to claim. The media and official assurances are legitimising overclaiming, and a sense of grievance among people if they are not promised prompt help to have even trivial cracks and cosmetic damage repaired.

One guy told me he’s had between $10k and $20k of work approved for what he says are cosmetics though he would have been quite happy if they’d said , "Sorry mate, too trivial, we’ve got important things to spend money on". As he said, "I’d be a mug to object, indeed I’d be a mug not to claim when we’re all being urged to claim. I could have filled the cracks in the Gib and repainted myself". He went on “I’m benefitting, but I worry about where the money is coming  from, what it will do to insurance premiums for everyone, and the useless helplessness people are encouraged to think is normal”.

An engineer who is 100% on claims investigation told me that quite a few of the houses owners had been told were “written off” could easily be fixed and made perfectly liveable. There may be a loss in value, for which compensation could be paid. But people have been encouraged to think their lives are on hold for what could be years till Father Christmas decides their future.

According to him the Earthquake and War Damage Commission is too scared of critical headlines over sob stories, to tell people who should be told – "harden up". Meanwhile people who really can not help themselves are in a queue twice as long as it need be. 

I thought of this when John Key was asked by Katherine Ryan last week what was the most important issue facing New Zealand. John said “the economy”. Perhaps – But I think at a level below that – the issue could be loss of the soul and spirit of New Zealand, our traditions of stoicism and self reliance. Canterbury reports of people whining about their lives till the authorities have made them whole are not a great foundation for us getting back to paying our way in the world, earning as much as we spend, which we last did nearly 50 years ago. Ever since we’ve been living high by borrowing the savings of others overseas.