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Anne Gastinger at home in Darlington. - Source: Fairfax
A Christchurch woman with a rare medical condition has been forced to sleep outdoors or suffer migraines and insomnia because of repairs in her earthquake-damaged street.
Anne Gastinger, of Dallington, has electromagnetic hypersensitivity, or an adverse reaction to electromagnetic waves and wi-fi, and severe chemical allergies, including to treated wood.
Her illness was discovered after she contracted dengue fever while teaching in India at age 23.
Gastinger said she was distraught about having to leave her red-zoned home of 15 years because her medical condition complicated the search for a new property.
The house had been adapted to avoid triggering the allergies and she hoped to relocate it because it was undamaged.
However, covenants on new subdivisions and no policy on buying back houses from the Government made that unlikely, Gastinger said.
Her symptoms, which include migraines and insomnia, worsened in April last year when overhead powerlines were installed because of damage to underground cables.
"I was managing really well here. When the high-voltage lines went up, I was no longer able to tolerate for any length of time being at home. My body seems to lack the tolerance."
Since then, to avoid migraines and insomnia, she has spent most nights sleeping outside at a friend's home in an abandoned red-zoned area with no electricity or wi-fi.
"They're red-zoned and she's got a good porch area I can sleep under," Gastinger said. "Unless it's really wet and rainy, [then] I use medication and stay home."
She rarely spoke about the condition because it was a not an acknowledged diagnosis in New Zealand, although a Christchurch GP had provided a medical certificate confirming her symptoms.
"It's hard if you've got a health condition and you don't have your home to recover in. If you've got a migraine, you really like to go to bed.
"I'm really hoping we get some resolution soon because it's really taking a toll on my health. I've really lost ground."
The red-zoning was a shock because driveway cracking was the only damage to her nearly 800-square-metre section, Gastinger said.
She had to accept the Government offer to buy house and land, but finding a suitable home was challenging.
The 'one-size-fits-all approach' for red-zoned homeowners did not work and more support for those with disabilities was needed.
"From the moment we were red-zoned, we were out there looking [for a new house] daily," Gastinger said. "There's not much out there."
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