Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority

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Canterbury Earthquake
Recovery Authority
Te Mana Haumanu ki Waitaha
Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority logo.jpg
Agency overview
Formed 2011
Dissolved 18 April 2016
Jurisdiction New Zealand
Headquarters Level 8, HSBC House,
62 Worcester Blvd,
Christchurch
Canterbury 8140
Annual budget Vote Canterbury Earthquake Recovery
Total budget for 2015/16
$453,655,000[1]
Ministers responsible
Agency executive
  • John Ombler,
    Acting Chief Executive
Website cera.govt.nz

The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) (Māori: Te Mana Haumanu ki Waitaha) was the public service department of New Zealand charged with coordinating the rebuild of Christchurch and the surrounding areas following the 22 February 2011 earthquake. Its enabling legislation expired on 18 April 2016 and CERA's functions were taken over by a variety of other agencies.

Description

CERA was formed in response to the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, and its establishment was announced late March 2011. It had wide-ranging powers and could suspend laws and regulations for the purpose of earthquake recovery.[2] The department operated for five years, with annual reviews.[3] CERA's enabling legislation included an expiry date of 18 April 2016.[4]

Roger Sutton commenced as CERA's CEO on 13 June 2011.[5] He had previously been CEO of Orion New Zealand, the electricity distribution company for the Christchurch area. Sutton resigned as CEO on 17 November 2014 effective on 31 January 2015 when CERA was downgraded from a public service department to a departmental agency within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC).[6] John Ombler, CERA's establishment CEO was appointed on 19 November 2014 effective on 1 December to be Acting CEO until a permanent Chief Executive is named.[7][8] CERA received criticism for paying panel members $1000 per day,[9] approximately 10 times the national average.[10]

CERA's powers were challenged in the High Court after it ordered the demolition of Wharetiki House at 854 Colombo Street. The owner of the house wanted to restore it after it had suffered damage in the February 2011 earthquake. Justice Whata dismissed the challenge on 20 June 2011, and the building was demolished the following day.[11]

In October 2011, CERA hoped to have all of the Christchurch Central City open again in April 2012.[12] In April 2012 the Christchurch Central Development Unit (CCDU) was established as a unit within CERA to focus on rebuilding the central business district of Christchurch.[13] A public consultation on the organisation's transport plan closed on 1 February 2013.[14] As of October 2013, Cabinet had not signed off on the plan.

At its peak, the organisation employed 357 staff. Its functions were taken over by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), and the Ministry of Health in December 2015, and the DPMC on 1 March 2016. Within the DPMC, the Greater Christchurch Group is responsible for part of the functions that CERA used to carry out. In April 2016, other functions went to newly-established organisations: the Crown company Otakaro Ltd (responsible for delivering anchor projects) and the council-Crown agency Regenerate Christchurch (responsible for developing regeneration plans for Christchurch, including the residential red zone). When CERA was disbanded, it still had 170 staff.[4]

References

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External links

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