Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has cautiously welcomed a range of data just released by the Ministry of Economic Development showing positive indicators for the Canterbury economy following September and February’s earthquakes.

“What we’re seeing isn’t yet a trend, but it’s clear evidence things are by no means as bad as some doomsayers predicted they would be,” Mr Brownlee said.

“I sense a real air of optimism in the region at the moment.

Payroll Giving donations of $546,000 in March were the highest monthly total recorded since the scheme began 18 months ago, with the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal clearly convincing people to give more generously than ever, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne announced today.

“It is very clear that the March figures were hugely boosted by New Zealanders supporting the Appeal, and finding that Payroll Giving is a simple and efficient mechanism to allow them to do that,” he said.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee today visited the latest of more than 5000 earthquake damaged Canterbury homes to have a replacement primary heat source installed or repaired by Fletcher Construction.

"As at close of play yesterday, Fletchers had installed 4137 heat pumps and repaired or installed 1020 new solid fuel burners," Mr Brownlee said.

"This is a considerable achievement given the size of the challenge and the complexity of many cases, where work must be done in sequence with emergency repairs."

A new temporary entertainment and performance events village to be set up in North Hagley Park will receive $650,000 from the government's Major Events Development Fund, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee and Acting Economic Development Minister David Carter announced today.

Mr Brownlee said the government had also backed the Christchurch City Council plan to stage a Rugby World Cup 2011 fanzone and festival events in the North Hagley Park events village and a travelling fan zone for east Christchurch.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says he is heartened by today's announcement from Lion Nathan that it will invest $15 million into building a state-of-the-art warehouse and distribution centre on its badly damaged Canterbury Brewery site in the Christchurch CBD.

"While it is unfortunate that Lion Nathan will no longer be brewing in Christchurch, it's good to have such a positive commitment to staying in Canterbury," Mr Brownlee said.

Government support for Cantabrian workers has now topped $200 million says Social Development and Employment Minister Paula Bennett.

“That support helped employees remain connected to their workplace and gave employers the breathing space needed to get back on their feet.”

The Government announced a support package days after February’s quake.

The first round of the Employer Support Subsidy went to 8,000 employers
for 47,000 employees.  It also supported nearly 11,000 sole traders.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has held the second of regular briefings with local elected representatives to discuss progress on recovery.

Mr Brownlee and his colleagues from the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) last night updated community board members and other local body officials on the progress of land assessment, the alliance programme to fix horizontal infrastructure, EQC and Fletcher Construction work on post quake assessments and repairs, and CERA's overall recovery strategy.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has this morning announced a phased demolition of the Hotel Grand Chancellor will begin in the next few weeks.

"This will be the largest demolition ever carried out in New Zealand," Mr Brownlee said.

"It’s also hugely symbolic for the people of Christchurch that the recovery process is well underway.

"It’s very important to get these big demolition jobs going because the sooner these buildings are down the faster we can move to reopen areas and get on with rebuilding.

The government has approved the fast-tracking of a 10-hectare reclamation of Lyttelton's Port using rubble from Christchurch's earthquakes, Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee and Environment Minister Nick Smith announced today.

"A streamlined process for this reclamation is needed to enable Lyttelton Port to quickly recover and to provide a practical way to deal with some of the estimated 8.5 million tonnes of rubble and material from the earthquake," Mr Brownlee said.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says the Earthquake Commission (EQC) had received 159,318 claims from the 22 February earthquake when the deadline for claims passed at midnight last night.

“This makes the events in Canterbury since 4 September last year by far the biggest natural disaster to hit New Zealand.

“As well as the 159,318 claims received for the 22 February earthquake, another 185,046 had been received relating to the 4 September earthquake and the subsequent events in October, November and December.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says the roll out of ultra fast broadband to Canterbury homes, businesses, schools and healthcare centres will provide a boost to the region and support recovery following the September and February quakes.

His comments follow an announcement today that the government will partner with Enable Networks to rollout ultra fast broadband in the region.

The rollout will start immediately with schools, hospitals and 90 per cent of businesses covered by 2015, and links to all homes completed before 2019.

The government will partner with the Christchurch City Council’s company Enable Networks to bring ultra fast broadband to every home and business in the city.

The rollout will start immediately with schools, hospitals and businesses covered by 2015, and links to all homes completed before 2019.

The government’s agreement with Enable Networks covers the Christchurch and Rangiora regions.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says he’s encouraged and delighted with today’s news that listed Australasian outdoor clothing and equipment company Kathmandu Holdings will build a new national distribution centre in Christchurch.

“I note the board of Kathmandu looked at other options, including Auckland, and chose Christchurch,” Mr Brownlee said.

The Canterbury earthquake tax bill passed yesterday will provide businesses and individuals with practical help and certainty in their tax affairs in the wake of the September and February earthquakes, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne said.

The main features of the new Taxation (Canterbury Earthquake Measures) Bill, are:

Budget 2011 provides an extra $10 million to support Cantabrians rebuilding their lives and communities after the earthquake, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says.

“This funding will go to local agencies to support Canterbury families as they deal with the impact of the earthquake and move forward.”

The cash injection will support counselling services, assist non-government organisations’ case management, co-ordinate services for families and support additional community-based services for those affected by the earthquakes.

Budget 2011 delivers $5.5 billion over six years for the Government’s new Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Fund, Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

The new Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) will receive $25.5 million of funding over two years, Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

“This funding is purely to set up the new authority. The Government will also spend about $8.8 billion over the next few years to help Canterbury rebuild through the Earthquake Commission, ACC, meeting costs of residential property damage, rebuilding infrastructure such as roads and essential water systems, and welfare support,” Mr Brownlee says.

The Government will launch a new Earthquake Kiwi Bond to help fund the recovery in Christchurch and provide investors with a new savings option, Finance Minister Bill English says.

The new four-year bond is similar to a term deposit and is available to New Zealand residents from today.

“This is a great opportunity for Kiwi investors who want to help fund the Government's contribution to the multi-billion dollar recovery in Canterbury, while still getting a solid return on their money,” Mr English says.

Changes are being made to Building Code documents to increase the seismic hazard factor for Canterbury and to require stronger foundations for buildings, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

The Department of Building and Housing has decided to increase the seismic hazard factor for the design of all buildings by 35 per cent from 0.22 to 0.3 based on the best scientific and structural engineering advice available.

Prime Minister John Key today thanked three of the world’s major motion picture organisations for their generous donations to the Government’s Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.

James Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment and Fox Filmed Entertainment, co-chaired by Jim Gianopulos and Tom Rothman, have collectively donated USD $1 million (NZD $1.26 million) towards the Appeal.

Warner Brothers, through Warner Bros. Video Ltd and Warner Bros Entertainment Australia Pty Limited, has donated USD $500,000 (NZD $633,557) to the Appeal.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says he’s pleased with progress being made by Fletcher Construction to replace the primary heat source in earthquake damaged homes.

Fletcher Construction took up responsibility for the replacement or repair of heating equipment in March, and has progressively increased the rate of delivery.

“Upward momentum is continuing, with 3,935 priority cases completed by yesterday, 16 May,” Mr Brownlee said.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee and Education Minister Anne Tolley have announced that full pre-earthquake operational funding for Christchurch schools is to be extended until the end of the year.

“This will provide certainty and stability for schools in Christchurch until the end of 2011,” says Gerry Brownlee.

“It means schools in Christchurch will continue to receive full funding for the number of pupils they had before February’s earthquake.”

Education Minister Anne Tolley says new study centres are providing extra support for Christchurch students whose schools are still affected by the February earthquake.

The centres provide a supervised place for students to study, and are aimed at students at colleges which have been temporarily relocated to another site or are co-located with another school because of earthquake damage.

“This is something that students and their parents will welcome,” says Mrs Tolley.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson today welcomed the Retirement Village Association’s announcement of a housing assistance package to for the former residents of Kate Sheppard Gardens.

“Kate Sheppard Gardens was severely damaged by the 22 February earthquake. Residents were evacuated in the immediate aftermath of the quake,” Mr Williamson said.