Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority announced
Prime Minister John Key has announced the creation of a new, single authority to provide leadership and coordination of the ongoing recovery effort in Canterbury.
The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) will be established as a stand-alone government department to enable an effective, timely and co-ordinated rebuilding and recovery effort in Canterbury.
CERA will have a lifespan of five years and its operations will be reviewed annually.
“Rebuilding Christchurch and the wider region following the earthquakes is one of the government's highest priorities and we are committed to providing the necessary resources to make this happen over the coming weeks, months and years,” Mr Key says.
“CERA will support the Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Gerry Brownlee to get the job done, in close collaboration with local councils and local communities,” Mr Key says.
CERA’s establishment will be made effective by Order in Council and will be made complete by enabling legislation which will be introduced to Parliament in coming weeks.
“Billions of dollars will be spent on behalf of taxpayers to fix Canterbury and the job requires a significantly more centralised response – but one that works alongside the Christchurch City Council, other councils and local government agencies, and also provides ways for the community to have input," Mr Key says.
The Ministery for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery, Gerry Brownlee, says the CERA will have a four person independent review panel to be chaired by a retired High Court judge to assess all legislative and regulatory changes CERA seeks to make.
It will also include a cross-party forum of local Members of Parliament to provide advice, a forum of Canterbury community leaders to ensure CERA reflects issues important to local people.
Mr Brownlee says there will be a number of appeal rights, with appeals to be heard swiftly by the High Court, and CERA will be subject to the Official Information Act.
CERA will be based in Christchurch and will in-part be staffed by secondees from government ministries with a direct interest in the recovery process. The department’s eventual headcount will depend on a number of things, including whether it contracts out some services or establishes its own functions.
CERA’s interim chief executive will be Deputy State Service’s Commissioner John Ombler. Mr Ombler will be responsible for establishing the department’s organisational structure and recruiting some key staff. In the meantime the State Services Commission has begun the process of appointing a permanent chief executive, which it hopes to complete within five weeks.