The Road Ahead: 'Some people never recover from the quakes'

Ali Jones, a former Christchurch City councillor and broadcaster, is a staunch advocate for residents struggling with the Earthquake Commission and private insurers. Photo / Mike Scott

"So the effect is, I don't know how to describe it because it's almost indescribable. Some people never recover from it. They do have PTSD. They do have a loss of cognitive ability. They become incredibly anxious. A lot of people are on medication. I think it's mainly about a sense of loss, loss of control and a loss of life." So does it make you angry? Jones almost growls. "Very."

As New Zealand prepares for an historic election in the worldwide grip of Covid-19, reporter David Fisher and visual journalist Mike Scott spent three weeks on the road to