MEDIA STATEMENT

HON PETER DUNNE MP
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
11 August 2000

24 HAMILTON BUILDINGS COULD BE EARTHQUAKE RISKS

United New Zealand leader, Hon Peter Dunne, has stepped up his campaign against unsafe earthquake buildings.

He has already released lists of earthquake risk buildings in Wellington, Lower Hutt, Invercargill, Whangarei, Bluff, Levin, Selwyn, and Hokitika and today he has released a list of 24 Hamilton buildings, which the Hamilton City Council says could be considered earthquake risks.

He had obtained the list (attached) from the Hamilton City Council under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act.

Mr Dunne says these buildings are ones considered unsafe by accepted earthquake standards.

"I say it is in the public interest that people know which buildings in their area are unsafe, which is why I have released the information."

"People will draw their own conclusions about the level of risk they face and what action they should take, but at least they will now have the public information to do so," he says.

Mr Dunne says he is extremely concerned 24 Hamilton buildings are possible earthquake risks.

"We like to think we are making great progress in earthquake preparedness, but these figures are a sharp reminder about how much more work needs to be done for us to be truly well-prepared."

"These figures are a wake-up call the community and the Council cannot ignore," he says.

Mr Dunne is presently gathering information from local authorities around New Zealand on earthquake risk buildings.

ENDS

Hon Peter Dunne MP, Leader United New Zealand
Parliament Buildings, Wellington, ph: (04) 471 9410 or (025) 469 808,

http://www.united.org.nz

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