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New Zealand earthquake toll at 145 dead

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What tremendous cost. I wonder what compensation, if any, those maimed and killed (or their families) with receive. For example, all those killed at the CTV building. Does anybody know what the system is?

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They have a government run system called Accident Compensation, the victims get free health care for their injuries for the rest of their life if needed, lump sum payout for loss of limb or use of limb etc. If they cant work as a result of the injuries received they get sickness benefit paid to them weekly.

There is no suing for injuries in NZ because of this system.

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“I think of the brick buildings, about half of them won’t be able to be saved,” Ingham said.

Just heard on the news the same thing. So before anybody posts a "what were they thinking putting up brick buildings in an earthquake zone?" comment, let's just make it clear that the city was built long before anybody had any idea it was located in an earthquake zone. The whole science of plate tectonics is really very new and only really accepted in the 1970's, before that the danger was not recognized or understood. A huge problem for New Zealand, and also Canada and the USA in the BC, Washington and Oregon areas.

If it is possible for anything good to come out of this disaster, it would be that it wakes people in those places up to the danger and focuses them on reinforcing buildings and taking other safety measures as much as possible.

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I'm a little frustrated about rescue operations are too slow and news is only about number of dead victims every day. Alive victims under rubbles are going to die if rescue takes much more time. It seems that man power is hopeless.

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The King’s Education language school released a list of missing people presumed in the building: nine teachers and 51 students—26 Japanese

And NHK is reporting no other news than this. It seems that Japanese (state) media have no concern for people of other countries, especially those of native (NZ) citizenship. Shame on NHK and other TV stations that are reporting on nothing other than the Japanese victims.

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ExportExpert, thanks much for that detailed explanation! This led me to visit the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) website, which has put up a page for the Canterbury Earthquake. Reflecting your explanation, with regard to foreign tourists, ACC states that it may be able to help with the cost of treatment of persons who got injured in the earthquake while visiting New Zealand, but notes that "it is important to be aware that ACC replaces your right to sue for personal injury."

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and who would you like to sue Hemplord? It seems you think some should be sued

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Civilized societies have a notion called liability, and another called compensation, mummet. Is there no recourse for being left a cripple for life through no fault of your own? Tough, deal with it? If ACC coverage is extended to foreign victims on the same terms as for kiwis, regardless of whether they choose to remain in New Zealand or return to their country, then it might be fine. If not, then the alternative is to sue. Who to sue, you ask? Use your imagination.

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and who would you like to sue Hemplord? It seems you think some should be sued

I suggest suing god. I wonder which court has jurisdiction?

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I bet that's on the mind of lots of people. The problem is that God can be tried, convicted, and sentenced only in absentia...

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