Bennett back in his house, vows to fight for neighbours

Joe Bennett is still angry at Christchurch authorities - even now he's back in his house (legally). Photo / Supplied

Author Joe Bennett is vowing to keep fighting for quake-hit Canterbury residents facing eviction after winning a battle to stay in his Lyttelton home.

Christchurch City Council ordered about 30 quake-hit Port Hills home owners - including Mr Bennett - to abandon their properties in December.

That angered Mr Bennett, who said he should be able to take responsibility for his own safety.

Results from a reassessment of his home completed last month have revealed it is safe for him to stay. He has been asked to take the red sticker off his home.

Mr Bennett today said he was still angry at the actions of what he labels the "cretinous, lumbering" authorities who tried to evict him.

He vowed to keep fighting on behalf of other residents in a similar situation.

"I feel like someone who's been lifted out of a prisoner of war camp but all my mates are still inside.

"I'm lucky because I don't have a family to support. My first thought is for the dozens of people that are in the same position that I'm in but have found it far more painful."

He said he got a written guarantee he was not being given preferential treatment before the reassessment was carried out on his house.

"People are going to say 'Joe got this because he is noisy' but I'm convinced that's not the case.

"Look, this is about individual responsibility. We've got this notion that somehow any injury or misfortune is an affront to what is right... It's ridiculous. I should be responsible for my own fate."

Christchurch City Council told Radio New Zealand re-inspections were being carried out on several Port Hills homes and some may have red stickers removed.

Bennett has written national newspaper columns and is the author of books including Hello Dubai, Where Underpants Come From and Mustn't Grumble.