Rushed CERA causes concern

Everyone in Canterbury needs to have a strong voice in the recovery. There is an opportunity to ensure that what happens to our streets, or suburbs and our communities during the recovery addresses inequities that have existed and produces a better Christchurch as a result.

Minister Gerry Brownlee doesn’t understand the difference between a rebuild and a recovery. We could tragically miss the opportunity not just to get it right for Canterbury, but to get it better. Yesterday’s select committee provided an ironic commentary on the ‘new normal’ in Christchurch. These aren’t usual times. The select committee hearing in Christchurch yesterday certainly wasn’t usual.

Most Christchurch people didn’t have a bill to comment on or submit on. There were no technical advisers available. There were no officials. These facilities are normal, but they were denied to Canterbury stakeholders. Gerry Brownlee did answer some questions, and he promised to get back to us with other answers. We have to trust that he will.

It would have been far better to take more time to get the process right, rather than rushing it through. Parliament should be able to send a united voice to Canterbury people. Instead we have a hotpotch, rushed last-minute process without any technical advice.

There were high-quality submissions yesterday, but people had less than 24 hours --- and had to work through the night --- to prepare them. I believe it has been disrespectful to Canterbury people to get the bill to them at 4pm one day and tell them they must have submissions ready by 10am the next day. There has been a lack of genuine community engagement.

[My full speech at the stage of the second reading is available here: http://inthehouse.co.nz/node/8374.]