Canterbury Earthquake – we’re here to help

Kiwibank hearts Christchurch

Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the Christchurch earthquakes. If you’re a Kiwibank customer in the affected area, we know you’ve got a lot going on at the moment and we’re doing everything we can to make things easier for you.

Help for Kiwibank customers

If you’re in Christchurch and you need help with your banking, please contact us. We’ll do whatever we can to assist.

If you have a home loan or your business banking with us, you can apply for:

  • a three month repayment holiday on your loans (including business banking loans)
  • a $1,000 overdraft, or an increase of $1,000 on your existing personal overdraft or revolving credit facilities.

Please note: interest will continue to accrue during the three month repayment holiday, and will be added to the loan principal.

Red zone? We can help

We’ve developed a special home loan package for people eligible for the Government’s red zone assistance.

If you accept the offer from the Government and wish to purchase or build a property elsewhere, we’re offering:

  • a 2% p.a. discount on our variable rate for a year from drawdown – this means that the rate will be 3.65% p.a.
  • no application fee for new home purchases
  • no fixed rate break costs or early repayment fee if you already have a Kiwibank home loan.

You’ll need to:

  • contribute the Government’s net payout towards the property purchase price, and
  • have your salary direct credited to a Kiwibank account.

The maximum loan amount is $500,000, and the loan needs to be drawn down before 31 December, 2012.

For more information, call us on 0800 222 224.

Talk to us

We’ve set up a response centre for our home loan and business banking customers at our business banking centre at 50 Durham Street, South Sydenham.

If you’d like to talk to someone face–to–face, you can make an appointment with the response team by calling 03 365 8178 between 9am and 5pm.

If you’d rather talk to someone on the phone, you can call:

  • 0800 222 224 for home loan enquiries
  • 0800 601 601 for business banking, or
  • 0800 11 33 55 for general assistance.

Insurance claims

Much of the damage will be covered by Earthquake Commission (EQC) Cover funded by the government, and you can contact the EQC claim lines (see contact details below).

Earthquake Commission Claims

Claims Line Info Line
0800 Damage / 0800 326 243

If you’re finding it difficult to get through on the EQC number you can complete the EQC internet claim form to get the claim initiated. You have 3 months to lodge a claim from the time the event occurred.

The Kiwibank/Tower claim line to call is 0800 222 491

Steps to take if you have damage

The following is what the EQC recommends if your property is damaged:

  • If possible, take photos before moving anything
  • You can make temporary repairs to prevent further damage or discomfort
  • You can get essential services ie. toilet & water systems repaired immediately, but keep anything receipts for anything replaced
  • You can clean up broken crockery, but keep remains
  • You can throw away perishables, but make a list and take a photo if possible
  • Ring the Earthquake Commission (see number above) and lodge a claim as soon as possible

Donations

The New Zealand Red Cross has a dedicated account at Kiwibank to receive donations to support people affected by the earthquake. All donations will go to the New Zealand Red Cross 2011 Earthquake Appeal.

Account number: 38-9009-0759479-00
Account name: RED CROSS.

If you would like a receipt for donations to this account, please email redcross.donationreceipt@redcross.org.nz.

The New Zealand Government has set up a dedicated account to receive donations to support people affected by the earthquake.

Account number: 03-0251-0039807-00
Account name: CHRISTCHURCH EARTHQUAKE APPEAL

If you wish to receive a donation receipt for donations of more than $5, please request one from the Department of Internal Affairs.

Kiwibank customers can make a donation to either of these Earthquake appeals through Kiwibank Internet Banking. To do this, search for ‘Earthquake’ in the Pay a Bill section of internet banking.

Banking services and ATMs

These Canterbury PostShops are currently open:

  • Allenton
  • Amberley
  • Ashburton
  • Avonhead Mall
  • Barrington Mall
  • Bishopdale
  • Darfield
  • Fendalton
  • Halswell
  • Hornby Mall
  • Kaiapoi
  • Leeston
  • Lincoln
  • Merivale
  • New Brighton
  • Northwood
  • Oxford
  • Papanui
  • Parklands
  • Phillipstown
  • Rangiora
  • Riccarton
  • Tower Junction
  • Upper Riccarton
  • Woolston

ATMs

These ATMs are working:

Please note: If the ATM is in a PostShop, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the PostShop is also operational – please check the list above to see which stores are open.

  • Addington – 274–6 Lincoln Rd, Addington, Christchurch
  • Aranui – 319 Pages Rd, Aranui, Christchurch
  • Ashburton – 196-206 Burnett St, Ashburton
  • Ashburton – Allenton PostShop, 61 Harrison St, Ashburton
  • Ashburton – ATM in the Ashburton PostShop, 390–408 East Street, Ashburton
  • Barrington – ATM in The Warehouse, Athelstan St, Christchurch
  • Belfast – ATM in The Warehouse, Radcliffe Rd, Christchurch
  • Bishopdale – ATM in the Bishopdale PostShop, 31 Bishopdale Court, Christchurch
  • Blenheim Road – ATM in The Warehouse, 261 Blenheim Rd, Christchurch
  • Halswell – ATM in Halswell PostShop, Shop 10, Halswell Shopping Ctr, Christchurch
  • Hornby Mall – ATM in the mall and ATM in the Hornby PostShop, Hornby Mall, Main South Road, Christchurch
  • Kaiapoi – ATM in the Kaiapoi PostShop, 55 Charles Street, Kaiapoi
  • Merivale – ATM in the Merivale PostShop, 183 Papanui Road, Merivale, Christchurch
  • New Brighton – ATM at New Brighton Books and More, New Brighton Mall
  • Papanui – Northlands Shopping Centre, Main Road North, Papanui, Christchurch
  • Rangiora – Rangiora Books & More, 199 High St, Rangiora
  • Riccarton – ATM in the Riccarton PostShop, 103 Riccarton Road, Riccarton, Christchurch
  • Riccarton – Riccarton Mall
  • South City – South City Mall, 555 Colombo St, Chirstchurch
  • Tower Junction – Tower Junction PostShop, Whiteleigh Avenue, Addington, Christchurch
  • Upper Riccarton – ATM in Upper Riccarton PostShop, 394 Riccarton Rd, Christchurch
  • Woolston – 8 Portman Street (Cnr Ferry Road), Woolston, Christchurch

Other ATMs

  • BNZ, 73 Rue Lavaud, Akaroa
  • BNZ, Conical Hill Road, Hanmer Springs
  • Westpac, 93 Main St, Methven
  • Westpac, 80 High Street, Leeston
  • Westpac, 18 Gerald St, Lincoln
  • Westpac, 113 Carters Rd, Amberley
  • Westpac, NZ Post - South Terrace, Darfield
  • Westpac, 33 Talbot Street, Geraldine

Other assistance

The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) has collated all information about where people who’ve been affected by the Canterbury earthquake can apply for Government assistance.

This assistance includes financial grants, housing, welfare centres, emotional support agencies, ACC claims for injury and schooling information. You can find links to all the information on MSD’s website at:

Information to help cope with trauma and stress – from EAP Services

EAP Services have been busy in the Canterbury region since the original quake in September.

A key issue they’re being asked about is how people can care for children in traumatic situations. Below you can find their information sheet on caring for children who’ve been affected by the quake, as well as their Trauma pamphlet.