Choice or Chance

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Summary

After the devastating earthquake on 22 February, the focus of public spending both now—and perhaps for some years to come—will be on the reconstruction of Christchurch. But will this cost fall evenly or fairly? That’s something the nation, as a whole, needs to stop and consider lest the most vulnerable pay an unfairly high price.

The question of who will pay for Christchurch’s reconstruction is still to be answered. The Government has already ruled out a tax increase, such as that being levied on Australians to pay for the recent Queensland disasters. The Government appeared initially to be relying on charitable contributions from New Zealanders, foreign governments and international donors. But beyond the charitable model, more substantial responses will be through insurance markets and the Government’s fiscal or expenditure policies.