Wellington building owners face bankruptcy after Kaikōura quake

Apartment owners in Wellington say, a year on from the Kaikōura earthquake, many are facing financial ruin. There are 200 residential earthquake-prone buildings in the capital. One of the owners, Scilla Askew, says the authorities who foisted the quake-strengthening costs on them have since abandoned them to get on with it. She told reporter Phil Pennington the Kaikōura quake has thrown into stark relief the arbitrary way in which people's lives are being ruined. Finance Minister Grant Robertson, speaking in his capacity as Wellington Central MP is urging the government to look at all the options for help, including providing low-interest loans.