Future
Canterbury
Network

12 April 2011

Media Release
For immediate publication

FCN welcomes Government commitment

The Future Canterbury Network (FCN) has welcomed the announcements by Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee that the Government will take steps to ensure its processes are inclusive and transparent.

“We welcome his assurances about better and more effective communication so that everyone will know what is going on and can make their own decisions based on factual information,” says FCN spokesman, Hon Philip Burdon.

“It is vital to rebuild confidence that those in charge are listening and for the public to know what they are doing. Canterbury people will only be able to put their past experiences behind them when they are kept in the picture and feel that their concerns are shared by those who will make decisions.

“The Government has a huge task ahead of it. In focusing on gathering information it must not lose sight of the fact that the people of Canterbury also need that information to move forward. So the gap between getting information and disseminating it needs to be as short as possible. Government agencies need to let people sort out what is relevant for themselves.

“Anything which mistakenly creates a perception that agencies are being less than candid will be detrimental to achieving the best outcome for the future,” concluded Philip Burdon.

ENDS

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