Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has acknowledged the time, effort and work by all parties in Parliament to reach a consensus position for the second reading of the Greater Christchurch Regeneration Bill.

All parties supported the Bill at first reading, and subsequent to the select committee process, have continued discussions to ensure there was as broad as possible agreement on a structure that would be best suited for Christchurch’s ongoing regeneration.  

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has welcomed the work the New Zealand Defence Force has been doing since 2014 to ensure a safe and healthy culture across the forces. 

Mr Brownlee responded to today’s launch by the Defence Force of Operation Respect, which is the culmination of two years of effort to tackle inappropriate and harmful sexual behaviours.

“As a large and diverse organisation, the Defence Force has a number of challenges, and it is good to see the NZDF address these head-on with a campaign like Operation Respect,” Mr Brownlee says.

Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Gerry Brownlee says the Community Forum has met for the last time, signalling the end of an era for the group that has significantly influenced the recovery of greater Christchurch.

The Forum was established in 2011 under the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act to provide information and advice to the Minister and Associate Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery. In June that year, the Minister invited local community groups across Christchurch to nominate members to represent them at the Forum.

A new community barbecue area will be added to the Margaret Mahy Family Playground in the coming months thanks to the generosity of ANZCO Foods, Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Gerry Brownlee says. 

The community barbecue area will contain four electric barbecues as well as food preparation benches, a water supply and a landscaped seating area. It will be located in the north-eastern corner of the playground, bound by the Ōtākaro/Avon river and the carpark. 

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has welcomed today’s departure of the main New Zealand Defence Force contingent on the HMNZS Canterbury for Fiji with relief supplies, Army engineers and helicopters.

“This is just the latest component of the NZDF’s contribution to the relief effort in Fiji in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Winston,” Mr Brownlee says.

“First on the scene after Cyclone Winston was an Air Force P3K2 Orion doing reconnaissance work, followed by C-130 Hercules flights carrying initial relief supplies and personnel.”

Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Gerry Brownlee says the people of Canterbury can be enormously proud of what they have achieved in the past five years.

“As we mark the fifth anniversary of the February 22 earthquake, it’s a chance to reflect on how far we have all come,” Mr Brownlee says.

“From a devastated city and communities so badly affected, people have gone from strength to strength and an exciting new city is taking shape.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has today confirmed the incorporation of Ōtākaro Limited, the new Crown company to oversee the work on major projects in the central city.

“We chose the name Ōtākaro in reference to the importance and vitality of the Avon/ Ōtākaro River,” Mr Brownlee says.

“Everyone involved in the recovery should be proud of how far we have come in the last few years. Greater Christchurch is performing well and attracting interest from all over the world.

The New Zealand Government today received two international awards for the mobile apps ‘Force Fit’ and ‘Occupation Outlook.’

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee and Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce congratulated staff at the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment who developed the apps, which received Best m-Government Service Awards at the annual World Government Summit in Dubai.

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee leaves today to attend the first Counter-Daesh Defence Ministerial meeting, involving all countries contributing to the Counter-Daesh Coalition.

The meeting will take place in Brussels, Belgium on 11 February.

Ministers will discuss a range of regional and international security issues, in particular their respective responses to the fight against Daesh, and how the campaign will evolve over the next 12 months.

The redevelopment of the Lyttelton Port in Canterbury will play a significant role in the future economic growth and prosperity of the South Island by boosting jobs and trade, Deputy Prime Minister Bill English and Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee say.

On the same day trade ministers from around the world signed the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement, Mr English formally opened the Cashin Quay 2 Wharf, an $85 million expansion that will increase the Port’s ability to grow trade in the coming decades.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has today announced an extension of a lease on Crown-owned land to enable the iconic Re:START Mall more time operating at its current site.

The innovative container mall, which opened in 2011, is situated on a mix of Crown and privately owned land.

“The Government and Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust have backed the Re:START Mall from the beginning due to its important role in bringing locals and visitors into the central city after the earthquakes,” Mr Brownlee says.

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has welcomed news that Iraqi troops who were trained by the New Zealand Defence Force’s (NZDF) Building Partner Capacity mission in Taji were part of the force that has retaken the city of Ramadi from Daesh (ISIL).

“The success of these troops results from their commitment to the training programme they have been involved in. New Zealand and Australian trainers can take some pride over the successful action by the recruits,” Mr Brownlee says.

Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Gerry Brownlee says the decision by the Anglican Church to progress investigations into reinstating the ChristChurch Cathedral will be greatly appreciated by the wider community.

The Church Property Trust, which owns the Anglican Cathedral in Cathedral Square, has received an independent report from a Government-appointed consultant, who has reviewed the engineering options for the iconic city building.

Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Gerry Brownlee says formalising the East and North Frame development agreement between the Crown and Fletcher Residential enables the large residential build to get underway in central Christchurch.

The agreement means Fletcher Residential’s work programme will begin by October next year with the first area of new homes being built on the corner of Latimer Square and Hereford Street, comprising an area of almost 3000 sq metres.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says the opening of the Margaret Mahy Family Playground today provides a central location for a summer of family fun in Canterbury.

“The playground has been under construction since April and is now ready for children of all ages,” Mr Brownlee says.

“There are plenty of activities for children and space for their parents to enjoy.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has today announced the appointment of a high quality design team to work with the Government and Christchurch City Council on developing the city’s new Metro Sports Facility.

“Warren and Mahoney, along with Peddle Thorp Architects and MJMA (MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects), have been chosen to provide architectural design services for this facility, which is going to be a great community asset for Christchurch for generations,” Mr Brownlee says.

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee will host the Australian Defence Minister, Senator Marise Payne in Christchurch today.

The Ministers will discuss a range of regional and international security issues, including international efforts to counter Da’esh and deployments such as the Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai, and Operation Resolute Support in Afghanistan.  The respective New Zealand and Australian Defence White Papers will also be a topic of conversation.

“I welcome Senator Payne to New Zealand,” Mr Brownlee says.

Leader of the House Gerry Brownlee says there is much to celebrate in the Government’s busy and productive legislative year, which ended with Parliament’s adjournment this afternoon.

“The House sat for 88 days this year, compared to 70 days in 2014,” Mr Brownlee says.

“We saw 120 bills pass their third reading and become law this year.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee is pleased that good governance arrangements have been recognised as a key component to Christchurch’s Bus Interchange being successfully completed on time and on budget.

The Performance Audit into the Governance and Accountability Arrangements for the Bus Interchange Project was carried out by the Office of the Auditor General (OAG), and its report was released yesterday.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says it’s a credit to all involved that the costs of Christchurch’s horizontal infrastructure repair and replacement programme will come in under the maximum budget allocated, saving taxpayers and ratepayers money.

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee today announced that Cabinet has approved the purchase of new rifles to re-equip the Defence Force, 28 years after the Steyr 5.56mm rifle was introduced. 

The new rifle is manufactured by Lewis Machine and Tools (LMT) in the United States.

“The LMT is a combat-proven rifle that has seen service in the most arduous conditions,” Mr Brownlee says.

“It gives our personnel a weapon they can rely on in any situation,” Mr Brownlee says.

The first significant step for Christchurch’s joint organisation Regenerate Christchurch has been marked today with the announcement of its chairperson, Andre Lovatt, who is the Chief Executive of the Arts Centre of Christchurch.

The appointment has been jointly agreed by Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee and Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel.

“We know from his tremendous work in Christchurch that Mr Lovatt will bring positive energy and drive to his role in Regenerate Christchurch,” Mr Brownlee says.

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has paid tribute to the courage and high standards of service exhibited by New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel who have been recognised in the Special Honours List released by Government House today, and also those who have received honours announced by the Chief of Defence Force.

“A range of honours have been conferred today, for gallantry and other outstanding service in two of the NZDF’s most demanding deployments of recent times, Afghanistan and South Sudan.

Minister Responsible for the Earthquake Commission (EQC) Gerry Brownlee has welcomed the Auditor General’s report released today highlighting the progress being made with the Canterbury Home Repair Programme (CHRP), and the continued benefits it is delivering.

Today’s report is a follow-up to a 2013 report by Auditor General Lyn Provost that recommended that EQC make improvements in five areas of the Canterbury Home Repair Programme.