-
Source: ONE News
What is the purpose of the Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Bill?
The purpose of this legislation is to facilitate the response to the Canterbury earthquake.
The legislation enables the relaxation or suspension of statutory requirements that:
- may divert resources away from clean-up efforts or prevention of future damage;
- may not be able to be complied with due to the Canterbury earthquake;
- may delay a timely response to the emergency recovery.
How will statutory requirements be relaxed or suspended?
The Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Bill enables the government to use orders in council to facilitate the recovery response. Orders in council will be used to tailor specific solutions to identified issues as Canterbury recovers. It allows authorities to react quickly.
What is an Order in Council?
An order in council authorises action on a particular matter and is made by the Executive Council and presided over by the Governor-General. All Ministers are members of the Executive Council.
The Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Bill allow Orders in Council to go directly to the Executive Council without first being approved by Cabinet. These orders in council will authorise amendments, suspension, or exemptions of the relevant legislation to enable the recovery and repair of damage caused by the Canterbury Earthquake to progress in a timely manner.
Once the Executive Council documents have been signed by the Governor-General, they are returned by the Cabinet Office to the Minister's office. The Cabinet Office will arrange for the Orders in Council to be notified in the New Zealand Gazette.
How long will orders in council be in place?
Each order in council, developed in response to the recovery, will need to meet the test of complying with the purpose of this Bill - it must facilitate the response to the Canterbury earthquake.
The orders in council, and this legislation, will only be in place for as long as they are needed and no longer than 1 April 2012.
Who will be on the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Commission?
The Mayors of the three worst-hit districts, Christchurch, Waimakariri and Selwyn will be on the commission.
The government will make four appointments to the commission including an Environment Canterbury Commissioner, an independent chair - who is not a public servant - and a further two members. These appointments will be announced shortly.
What role will the commission have?
The commission will work with both central and local government to prioritise work and will:
be able to propose Orders in Council and are to be consulted on all Orders in Council made under this Bill.
The commission will also provide advice to the responsible Ministers on the prioritisation of resources and allocation of funding.
How will impediments to the recovery be identified?
The impediments will be identified by both central and local government. People working directly on the recovery will be identifying things that could delay or hinder the recovery.
Latest NZ News Video
-
ONE News Minute 9am update: May 26 (1:00)
-
Kids cough up $14m for Government (1:50)
-
Education ministry 'barbaric' (1:55)
