90 seconds at 9 am with BNZ

90 seconds at 9 am with BNZ: Brownlee takes over Christchurch rebuild; wants old buildings demolished; emergency to be extended

7th Mar 11, 9:50am by Bernard Hickey

Bernard Hickey details the key news overnight in 90 seconds at 9 am in association with Bank of New Zealand, including news the National government wants to take over the management of the rebuilding of Christchurch from the Christchurch City Council.

Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee said the government would step using its powers under the extended state of emergency to take over the recovery response from the Christchurch council.

Brownlee argued the response from the city council after the September quake had been too bureaucratic and the government wanted to punch through all the red tape. See more here in this NZHerald article.

"We need something that can move a lot faster than what we have been doing," Brownlee said. "That requires a lot of changes to these legal niceties."

"While they are part of our past history, they have no place in our future history."

Meanwhile, John Key has said the national state of emergency was likely to be extended again for some time.

See more here at OneNews.

Elsewhere, Key said a cut in the Official Cash Rate on Thursday would be helpful for the economy, but it was up to the Reserve Bank Governor to make that decision.\

The Treasury also estimated the earthquake could cost NZ$10 billion to NZ$15 billion to repair. See more here from Alex Tarrant.

The New Zealand dollar fell to 73.7 USc this morning.

Our apologies for the late delivery of the this report today. We had some technical problems that have now been rectified.

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11 Comments

by Philly | 7th Mar 11, 10:12am 1299445943

Brownlee? Heaven help them then! Just look at the debacle when he handled the mining-on-conservation-estate issue. In Parliament he is a useful bulldozer, but a bulldozer isn't necessarily what is needed in Chch.

Particularly regarding the heritage buildings. When we go to Chch, we don't go to the malls etc. We visit the old churches, Provincial Chambers, etc etc. A big part of tourism & identity of Chch. My brother runs tours there, that is his comment too.

In Germany after WW2 they rebuilt a lot of old buildings from the rubble. OK, some are impossible to retrieve. But a number can surely be salvaged.

Happy Monday to all.

by Kunst | 7th Mar 11, 11:46am 1299451609

Brownlee was in charge of “Pike River’, but missed his duty to check on safety issues over a foreign company clearly under operational and financial stress.

Now he’s in charge of Christchurch – good luck !

Don’t rebuild the “City Centre” - as we knew it.

The idea of rebuilding the “City Centre” is wrong - too costly, unsafe and delays the urgent needed reconstruction of business complexes/ houses, but on safer areas - in the outskirt of Christchurch where people live. In today’s world with economic, financial, political problems, etc. and not sufficient public transport we do need “Sustainable Living- Working Communities”

Do we need a CBD ?

All buildings considered unsafe should be demolished. The ones which are safe should be integrated into a completely new approach of designing and creating the City Centre. The most wonderful City Centre in the world at minimal costs - with the best outcome for the wider population and businesses – a “Giant Botanical Garden"- including recreational features, small , boutique shops/ cafes, works of art, beautifications, all heritage buildings miniature (1:20), and memorials etc. - all build with rubble left by the earthquakes.

Christchurch, please make yourselves attractive. Do it for the next generation – create (them) their future and not an additional financial burden.

by Rob of the North | 7th Mar 11, 10:34am 1299447264

As usual , everyone responds to media sound bites.!

Gerry Brownlee is actually the chairman of the Riccarton Heritage Society in ChCh which would hardly seem to indicate that he's some sort of heritage vandal..check it out for yourself,philistines?!

by powerdownkiwi | 7th Mar 11, 10:40am 1299447601

yeah we heard him say that.

That's not what I'm on about, Rob. See my comment on the Neville Bennett thread.

by rp | 7th Mar 11, 10:46am 1299448009

I think Gerry is on the right track this time (while he way off on the mining sched 4 land debacle). Christhchurch needs to be rebuilt quickly and you can't have buildings saved for emotional reasons that may put peoples' lives at risk. The main problem with recovery from the first quake is it has been too slow.

by Vanderlei Luxemburgo | 7th Mar 11, 10:59am 1299448744

is anybody out there familiar with what napier did after 1931?

didn't they assemble a commission of far sighted and experienced locals who sussed out a vision for the city, mindful of aesthetics, safety, and the fact that they were mid-depression?

might be a good time to learn the lessons of history........perhaps if we started printing some of that stuff on pie wrappers we could get through to mr brownlee

by JD | 7th Mar 11, 6:32pm 1299475940

"might be a good time to learn the lessons of history........perhaps if we started printing some of that stuff on pie wrappers we could get through to mr brownlee"

Probably shouldn't have found that funny, but I did. ;)

by Rob of the North | 7th Mar 11, 11:01am 1299448913

IS anyone experiencing problems on this site when you get a link directing back to another member responding to your posting?

i just get sent to the "news" section and then have to scroll my way through tons of posts to find the naswer to mine..small cheese, i know, but frustrating !!!!!!!

by Rob of the North | 7th Mar 11, 12:33pm 1299454385

Bernard's in discussions with Bollard as to whether to raise or lower the OCR, Alif , so we can stop for a pikelet break until he gets his aliens to sort it...

by Alex Tarrant | 7th Mar 11, 4:05pm 1299467139

State of emergency extended:

Civil Defence Minister John Carter has today extended the state of national emergency for a further seven days in the aftermath of the 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck Christchurch on 22 February.

The state of national emergency in New Zealand was declared on 23 February and first extended on 1 March. It is expected to continue for several more weeks, Mr Carter said.

“This extension has been made on the advice of the Civil Defence Emergency Management National Controller John Hamilton, and in consultation with the Prime Minister, Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee and the Mayor of Christchurch City Bob Parker,” Mr Carter said.

“This is the first time in New Zealand’s history that a state of national emergency has been declared as a result of a civil defence emergency event. The ongoing impact of the earthquake on 22 February, and the continuing aftershocks, is of such an extent that a combined effort from across the nation will be required for some time.

“The declaration of the state of national emergency ensures the maximum possible co-ordination and co-operation between central and local resources and international assistance. It also demonstrates the Government’s ongoing commitment to help people in Canterbury to respond to this disaster.

“Under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act, this declaration means the National Controller will continue to control the exercise and performance of functions, duties, and powers of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Groups and Group controller. He works in consultation with central government and local authorities, including the Mayor.

“This is a difficult time for the people in Canterbury and everyone involved in recovery work is pulling out all stops to ensure their safety and security.”

by KW John | 7th Mar 11, 5:38pm 1299472714

"Potentially earthquake proof"- great term....

Link to list of Wellington earthquake prone buildings

Wellington City Council Public List of EQP Buildings

This is from Peter Dunne's UF site.

"Mr Dunne said the list was “a very positive response to my call for the Wellington City Council to release its list of at-risk earthquake buildings, and I am glad it has now done so."

Note: where a building listed has the term ‘124 Served’, this means earthquake-prone building notices issued under Section 66 of the Building Act 1991 have been reissued a notice under Section 124 of the Building Act 2004 requiring strengthening.