PM's Presser 24/2/11: Cabinet Reshuffle, Dead to be Named

Thursday, 24 February 2011, 12:19 pm
Article: Scoop Audio

• Scoop Audio: - PM's Post Cabinet Press Conference 24/2/11: Christchurch Earthquake reshuffle and response.

A cabinet meeting was held this morning on the response to the Christchurch earthquake. PM John Key held a post-cabinet press conference after this at the beehive.

Earlier he had spoken to Police Commissioner Howard Broad. Mr Key indicated names of the identified dead would begin being release later in the day (with family permission) and the names of missing would also be gradually be made public.

Cabinet portfolios have been reshuffled to allow Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee to concentrate on the disaster response.

Mr Key noted the efforts of rescue workers in Christchurch and also international support, including five million dollars from Australia. He was due to speak to United States President Obama after the press conference.

The Prime Minister also provided general information about the general response effort, including water filtration plants arriving in the city several schools being possibly inoperable due to infrastructure damage.

The Prime Minister and the Finance Minister will speak to large NZ businesses about how they can help the quake response.

Mr Key said that while New Zealand's underlying economic issues remain the same, the budget implications of the earthquake are still being worked through.

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