More than a decade after the Canterbury earthquakes shook the foundations of thousands of homes, 228 homeowners find themselves still waiting for the law to close the gap between what was promised and what was delivered. A Court of Appeal ruling in September 2026 has confirmed that their $80 million class action against the Earthquake Commission will proceed to a 34-day trial in April 2027, but only after their litigation funder posts $628,000 in security for costs. The case raises a question that echoes through every large-scale public emergency response: when the state acts as insurer and re
Court rejects appeal in $80m Canterbury quake repairs class action, trial set for 2027
Over 228 homeowners remain burdened with uninsured repair costs and financial hardship, with one plaintiff forced to take a second mortgage and work longer to cover dual property expenses.