Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has stamped out media speculation that high-ranking civil servant Martyn Dunne will run a new government department tasked with rebuilding quake-hit Christchurch.
Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has stamped out media speculation that high-ranking civil servant Martyn Dunne will run a new government department tasked with rebuilding quake-hit Christchurch.
The Press newspaper last week reported that multiple sources confirmed Mr Dunne, a former military man who heads Customs, had been appointed interim chief executive of the new department.
Mr Brownlee said today that media speculation about Mr Dunne's role had been premature.
Mr Dunne had been working with the State Services Commission to help establish the department, but would not run it temporarily.
The 61-year-old is set to take up the role of high commissioner to Australia.
Mr Brownlee today thanked Mr Dunne for his preparatory work in recent weeks.
"I wish him well in his new role as New Zealand's high commissioner to Australia," he said.
The structure of the new department would be announced in the next few days, Mr Brownlee said.
"We have said from the outset that this department must work in close collaboration with the Christchurch City Council and other community leaders," he said.
"We have a responsibility to listen to the people of Canterbury and take them with us in the rebuilding of their region."
Mr Brownlee said he was confident the structure of the department would meet those objectives.
