The New Zealand government has declared that a chimney replacement programme is making "good progress", following damage caused by an earthquake earlier this month.
So far, 17,000 claims for chimney damage have been referred to Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (ECCA) by the Earthquake Commission (ECQ), with 7,500 of these claims focusing on chimney damage and these have been prioritised by the ECCA.
New Zealand's earthquake recovery minister Gerry Brownlee said to Scoop News: "This is a great opportunity to fix old, inefficient heaters that contribute to Christchurch's air quality issues."
Earlier this week, the ECQ asked for assistance from any companies that were willing to manage repairs to earthquake-damaged property in Canterbury, calling it an "important part" of the recovery process.
EQC's chief executive, Ian Simpson added that the move would "help manage resources equitably and ensure high standards of construction are maintained".