Quake department's power questioned
Concerns have been raised about the overriding powers of the new Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (Cera).
Concerns have been raised about the overriding powers of the new Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (Cera).
The Government yesterday announced the formation of the stand-alone government department, which will have a lifespan of five years, with operations reviewed annually.
Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee said Cera would have wide powers to relax, suspend or extend laws and regulations for earthquake recovery.
"These are essentially reserve powers and there will be checks and balances on the use of these powers so the public can have confidence they are being used wisely and with restraint."
A four-person independent review panel, chaired by a retired High Court judge, would assess all legislative and regulatory changes proposed by the department, and a forum of Canterbury community leaders would advise the department on what issues were important to local people.
However, Ferrymead and Hagley ward councillor Yani Johanson said he was concerned Christchurch leaders had no real power in rebuilding the city.
The community forum would advise but not make decisions, Mr Johanson said.
"The key concern is around who is making decisions and who has the power over that," he told Radio New Zealand.
"The scary thing about the powers that this authority and the minister are going to be given, is that he's got what you call a step-in power.
"If he's not happy with things being exercised or performing in the way that he wants, he can simply step in, remove all the power, remove the democratic rights the public may have and give those duties to someone else."
Mr Johanson predicted tensions would arise if the Government tried to speed up the recovery process.
"If we're going to rebuild a city for the next hundred years or longer, it's surely better to take some more time at the start of this and get it absolutely right and the best that we can, rather than rush in to have a sense of doing things for the sake of doing things."
NZPA
Wed, 30 Mar 2011
Wed, 30 Mar 2011
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Quake department's power questioned
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