I have always thought we live in a fools' paradise in New Zealand. Now, the ongoing Christchurch quakes, and the insurance companies' problems, are truly showing the above to be stark reality. And if we think we can ignore this, we are even sillier.
New Zealand needs to immediately start a one percent transaction tax (with no exceptions) with the resulting funds to be kept completely separate (and untouchable by politicians) for future disasters.
With a massive fault line through the country, Taupo volcano dead centre of the North Island, and Auckland sitting on a magna hotspot, it is simply a matter of time until the next unwelcome surprise.
However, with politicians just desperate for power, and a mostly apathetic public, the above is just a pipe dream. It will be dismissed as far too difficult (the tax) and ignored, because it's so much easier to do nothing.
R. McGuinness, Tauranga.