The story of the businessman who had to pay $700 to get his own furniture back after it had been looted from his premises within the Christchurch red-zone cordon, with Civil Defence meanwhile refusing to allow him access, does at least hint at a solution.

Civil Defence have announced that they cannot be held responsible for this kind of police-protected looting taking place, but referred the matter to the Demolition Contractors Association. The Association has responded by saying that they cannot do anything because Civil Defence had given work to people who are not members.

At last it has become clear that what Christchurch business people need to do is to form their own demolition firm so that they can go in and loot their own buildings.

Tony Watkins
Karaka Bay

First published in the New Zealand Herald

28 March 2011