Kaikoura Earthquake media release #22, 29 November 2016, 1330hrs

Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management Director, Sarah Stuart-Black, says the Canterbury Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Group’s decision to extend the local State of Emergency will ensure the Group has the powers it needs to respond to affected communities quickly and efficiently.

“It is likely the local State of Emergency will continue until the Civil Defence Emergency Management Amendment Act 2016 Amendment Bill (CDEMAA Amendment Bill) has been passed.”

The Amendment Bill will speed up the implementation of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Amendment Act 2016, which was passed earlier this month and had a bedding in period of 180 days. The Amendment Act makes the transition from response to recovery more effective by providing powers to those carrying out recovery work, such as limiting access to public spaces and requiring building owners to undertake earthquake assessments of their properties, without requiring a state of emergency to be extended.

“We want to make sure Controllers and Recovery Managers have those powers now so they can support an effective transition to recovery.”

The Hurunui/Kaikoura Earthquakes Recovery (Emergency Relief) Bill 2016 is also before Parliament today to:
· temporarily increase the timeframes in which someone can give notice or apply for retrospective consent in regard to emergency works under the Resource Management Act

· propose that emergency works to farm properties become permitted activities until March 30 2017

· propose a number of legislative changes to allow for the restoration of Kaikoura harbours.

The Hurunui/Kaikoura Earthquake Recovery Bill 2016 will be introduced to the House on Thursday before a short select committee stage. The Bill establishes a process that enables plans and bylaws to be amended by Order in Council.

“As with any emergency of this scale, other bespoke legislation is required to address particular impacts that arise at the time. Each of these Bills will enable affected communities to recover quickly and efficiently.”

Earlier today, the control of the Kaikoura Emergency Access Route (Inland Road) was handed from the Canterbury CDEM Group Controller to the New Zealand Transport Agency. The road is still under restricted access until resilient access to Kaikoura is restored. Access is being managed according to priorities agreed by NZTA, local councils and the Canterbury CDEM Group.

ENDS

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