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Cabinet working on new department for Christchurch


Cabinet is likely to finalise details of the new government department for Christchurch earthquake recovery next Monday, Prime Minister John Key says.

NZPA
Mon, 21 Mar 2011

Cabinet is likely to finalise details of the new government department for Christchurch earthquake recovery next Monday, Prime Minister John Key says.

Mr Key said at the weekend a department was going to be needed to support Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee because the city council didn't have the capacity to co-ordinate everything that had to be done.

He said at his post-cabinet press conference today an announcement was likely next week, and he wouldn't say who was going to head the new department.

"There is someone who temporarily might be able to run it but the final person hasn't been decided," he said.

"I'm not going to speculate on names"

Mr Key said ministers were also working on an extension of the support package for businesses that was put in place immediately after the February 22 earthquake.

That programme gave businesses money so they could continue to pay their workers $500 a week, and it gave people who had lost their jobs $400 a week.

It was a six-week programme and Mr Key said it would be extended but with tighter criteria.

He said there would be an announcement tomorrow about one part of it, involving support for businesses.

"We haven't finalised what the new package will look like but it's fair to say the criteria will be tightened," he said.

NZPA
Mon, 21 Mar 2011
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Cabinet working on new department for Christchurch
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