EQC slams Press article as 'disappointing'
Related Links
Relevant offers
Christchurch Earthquake 2011
A day for Christchurch to remember
The EQC has slammed a Press article on an internal staff briefing on the media as inaccurate and selective.
In an open letter to the editor, Earthquake Commission chief executive Ian Simpson said an article published in this morning's Press had inaccuracies and was selective in its approach.
About 100 readers have commented on the story about an internal presentation to commission staff that showed mugshots of three Press journalists who could not be trusted.
At an EQC meeting in Christchurch on Monday, returning field staff were shown a presentation that accused some of the media of "dirty tactics" and relying on "rumours".
Underneath these comments were photos of Press reporters Ben Heather and Martin van Beynen and editor Andrew Holden, accompanied by Press headlines highlighting EQC shortcomings.
The presentation, released to The Press by the EQC late yesterday afternoon, also accused the media of portraying the commission as a villain and focusing on "poor Christchurch residents battling evil Wellington bureaucracy".
EQC staff were also told that Heather was "schizophrenic in his writing". Simpson explained this was because Heather's reporting was "fair and even sympathetic" to EQC one day, but took "an aggressive stance" the next.
Presentation was light-hearted - with a serious message
In the letter to the editor, Simpson said that if the EQC had "a wary and sometimes fractious relationship" with The Press it was because many of the things published were "inaccurate or unbalanced, or both".
Ironically, he said, today's article had two inaccuracies.
Monday's presentation was not by EQC customer service general manager Bruce Emson, as the article stated, but by communications general manager Debbie Barber.
Nor was the presentation on the same day as Emson was interviewed by The Press, but the day before.
Simpson wrote that the most disappointing aspect of today's story was that it portrayed Press reporters as victims of a smear when the presentation was intended as a "light-hearted look at the media", with a serious message.
He said Barber's talk acknowledged the media had a legitimate role in a democratic society and told EQC staff "we can't take it personally".
"If only The Press took the same advice," Simpson wrote.
Praise for broadcast journalists
The presentation also included images suggesting the media viewed the EQC as akin to Mr Bean, hotelier Basil Fawlty and notoriously bad boss David Brent from The Office television show.
However, the presentation was more complimentary of Close Up TV presenter Mark Sainsbury, One News reporter Alison Pugh and Newstalk ZB presenter Mike Yardley.
A slideshow showed photographs of all three, praising them for accentuating the positives. Yardley hosts a regular slot where listeners can ask EQC senior staff questions directly.
To combat the media, the presentation said, the EQC should "call the media to account" for unsatisfactory coverage.
Holden said the presentation was extremely disappointing and thoroughly unprofessional.
"It suggests an organisation suffering from poor leadership, which appears to have created an unhealthy environment at a time when people in Christchurch actually need to be confident, open and trusting," he said.
The EQC has objected to stories in The Press on several occasions, particularly when its recruitment process was under scrutiny.
Last year, it was revealed that the sons and daughters of some senior EQC staff had been hired as assessors and paid between $60 and $110 an hour.
Zac Stiven, son of EQC Canterbury events manager Reid Stiven, was employed as an assessor when he was only 18 or 19. In 2009, he was playing schoolboy rugby.
In July, Close Up ran a story where it tracked down contractors accused of ripping off the EQC. The story followed complaints from some contractors that the commission owed them tens of thousands of dollars.
- © Fairfax NZ News
Sponsored links
Newest First
Oldest First
I reckon EQC should be more concerned about dealing with the huge pile of claims rather than the media. Heaven only knows how much money has been wasted so far on a inefficient, insufficient, desperately inadequate service. Thank you Press for being by far the most reliable and timely source of information for us here in Canterbury, without you we would've been completely in the dark.
@ Sue #193
Everyone has heard what your saying before, but we dont live in other countries we live in New Zealand, We pay for EQC so its shouldn't be an issue, and to prefectly honest no one asked for government help except insurance companys, people in dallington bexly didn't ask to be red zoned our government stepped in and offered to buy land, why did they do this, because they know one day in the not so distant future they can sell that land back to us and make huge profits, so from the outside it looks like WOW how nice of them but really its not its a smart business decision because that is what a government is. I guess your not from CHC because if you were your attitude might be different and info more informed.
STOP WHINGEING EQC. Start doing your job as well or better than THE PRESS. That way THE PRESS will have nothing to write about that may be a bother to you. Rememeber your substandard performance is the fuel for criticism and that comes not just from THE PRESS. Do something to allay the concerns of your customers and THE PRESS will have nothing to critcise you for. Your money is given by the taxpayer to assist those affected by natural disasters not for PR talking up slack ..nay.... pathetic performance.
The problem here is all these people were sucking the tit, thinking it would never happen on their watch. For years they told us to be ready for the "big one", seems they were the ones not ready. I attended one of the first meetings at Burwood School after Sept 4th,asked Ian Simpson what the recovery plan was. He couldn't answer, stumbled for words and said not to worry there was one. From that moment on I knew we were buggered, he's a piss poor liar.
Seems Debbie Barber only wants to send information not receive it, ironic for the "GM of Communication".
My fault, I had the expectation, sad really.
sue 193 perhaps we needn't have paid EQC for years on end along with our insurance either and perhaps EQC didn't need to pay itself and it's administration at massively overpriced rates?? perhaps if EQC weren't the first to plunder our payout coffers and then pick who plunders it next..? what if the money we've all invested in EQC to protect our assets actualy went to protecting our assets? What would happen to all those now on $5k a week since sept 4th..? anyone over there, on the take, feeling guilty?
Perhaps the EQC, should emulate the Lottery Commission. When a payout occurs and/or builder turns up, ask the claimant would he or she like to participate in a feelgood piece to show how excellently the EQC is performing. When your number comes up, we'll feel free to send in an EQC appointed assessor/ Fletchers accredited contractor/ cheque for contents which should have been paid by Christmas 2011 for all those claims registered before Dec 23rd...as advertised in the EQC claimants newsletter.
Loose lips sinks ships was used during the world wars to prevent the enemy learning vital information. Apparently EQC think they are at war with Canterbury residents with legitimate claims. Very, very far from customer focused and time for a clean sweep of EQC management.
Perhaps we should just go the way of other countries who don't have an EQC. The claimants all have to deal with their insurers and that's it. There is no govt intervention with people's private property at all. Usually there is no way for people to claim for land as most insurers only insure peoples dwellings.
Wake_Up_And_Smell_The_Coffee#190. Yes, you are completely right - this "old boys and girls" club is really not capable to do anything meaningful.
Now, I think, it is time to stop worry and change the whole "business model" (how they call it) and their leadership.
I am 1000 % agree with The Press and suggest them to make one more step - suggest people how they can put all this cases together and push government to work off our money they wasted so long. Court action?
Engineer denies 'conflict of interest'
Three charged over pharmacy robberies
Climber dies in Fiordland fall
Blenheim wife killer denied freedom
Man jailed for crossbow, machete incident
Hairdresser who stole cash claims sacking unfair
If in doubt, get a second opinion
Carterton tragedy: Safety chief would refuse balloon ride
Major courts overhaul proposed
Foreign Affairs Ministry confirms 305 jobs to go
Mob cancels star's performance
Kiwis not up with online security
Helena Bonham Carter 'honoured'
New hope for kiwifruit growers
Gender non-conformity linked to abuse
Nelsen cleared to lead NZ against Jamaica
Robinson starts for Chiefs against old team
Man's childhood comic collection fetches $4.2m
What it means to live in Christchurch
If in doubt, get a second opinion
Engineer denies 'conflict of interest'
Three charged over pharmacy robberies
What it means to live in Christchurch
One dead in overnight Oxford blaze
Earthquake bells proposed as tribute
They are useless, that is the most unprofessional power point presentation I have ever seen. How many of my dollars is the person on ?