The fight is not over for a group of uninsured red zoned property owners in Christchurch.
A house in the red zone. Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski
Yesterday the Government announced it was increasing its buy-out offer to those with uninsured houses from 80 percent to 100 percent.
The 80 percent figure was arrived at after the Supreme Court directed the Government to reconsider its original 50 percent offer.
However the new offer is only for the land.
Ernest Tsao, is one of 50 uninsured homeowners who are now asking the Supreme Court for another ruling, forcing the Government to offer 100 percent of the value of their homes as well.
"People make financial decisions over time but regardless of their own personal choice the Government has no right to come in and say we're going to condemn your neighbourhood and pay you peanuts."
He said if he was to accept a payout for his land alone, he would not be able to afford to move elsewhere.