The Crown has directed the Earthquake Commission (EQC) act as Southern Response’s agent as it winds down its in-house claims settlement function.

So far, Southern Response has received 48,600 claims, says Minister for the EQC, Grant Robertson.

There is expected to be 300 remaining claims, which will transition to EQC by the end of the year.

“We are at a point where it’s financially prudent to combine the management of claims under one Crown organisation,” says Mr Robertson.

Southern response says it will continue to exist, but with a focus on its ongoing legal, financial and reporting obligations.